The Function of Automated External Defibrillators
by Thomas
Morva
zone3
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are not vastly dissimilar
from the ones many of us have seen for years on medical shows or in
emergency rooms at hospitals. The device exists to correct a
fibrillation, or irregular heart rate that is negatively impacting blood
flow, but unlike the standard defibrillators, the automated external
defibrillator can be operated by any citizen; even those with little or no
medical training.
When a person experiences cardiac arrest or a heart attack, a
defibrillator is placed on the chest and an electric current or shock is
channeled via electrodes or paddles. The shock is intended to jolt
the patient’s elevated and chaotic heart rhythm back into a normal range,
thus returning blow flow to normal levels. But in the case of the
automated external defibrillator, or AED, the device determines whether or
not a shock is warranted, and if so, what level of energy is required to
revive the patient. The user cannot override the determination of
the AED, and therefore an inexperienced person without medical training
need not worry about using the defibrillator on a patient not actually in
cardiac arrest.
Due to this drastically reduced risk of abuse, the AED has become a
fixture at various public forums such as airports, casinos or sports
arenas. There have been many cases where individuals, particularly
athletes or the elderly, have been stricken by sudden cardiac arrest only
to be saved by the presence of an automated external defibrillator.
One brand of AED available to the public, the Zoll AED Plus, has many
features designed to make the use of the defibrillator as simple as
possible for someone with little or no medical background. It
includes a graphical user interface and voice prompts that will walk the
user, step by step, through the entire process, as well as a single pad
that eliminates the confusion of placing electrodes on the patient’s
body. In addition the Zoll AED Plus runs on conventional batteries,
promising both convenience and financial savings.
The American Heart Association strongly supports the placement of
Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs in any public places where
immediate cardiac care may be needed. Other prime targets include
shopping malls, gated communities and office complexes.
For those interested in purchasing an AED for use in their community or
organization, the FDA may require a physician’s prescription for the
device. Your local EMS system can assist you in determining the
local and state protocols for owning and operating an AED.
There are also AED training and education courses available through the
American Heart Association. One such course is the new Heartsaver
AED course that combines CPR and AED training.
With the immergence of Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs, the
potentially life saving measure of averting cardiac arrest has been made
available to the general public with a very low risk of misuse or
abuse. As AEDs continue to appear in more and more public domains,
the hope is that the tragic results of sudden cardiac arrest or heart
attack can be reduced significantly, giving regular people the chance to
be a hero.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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