Automated External Defibrillator

What’s an automatic exterior defibrillator?

An AED is a small, transportable, battery-powered machine with a pc in it. The machine detects coronary heart exercise. It can provide an electrical shock to somebody if wanted. It makes use of small sticky gel pads referred to as electrodes which are placed on an individual’s physique. The electrodes are hooked up to wires. The wires ship data from the physique to the AED machine. The machine checks the center’s electrical system. If sure sorts of irregular coronary heart rhythms (arrhythmias) are discovered, the machine can provide the particular person an electrical shock. This shock can reset the center’s electrical exercise and trigger it to beat usually once more.

How does an AED work?

The center has its personal electrical system. It controls how the center contracts and pumps blood—or “beats.” Heartbeats are often known as the center rhythm. However typically an individual can have irregular heartbeats. These are often known as arrhythmias. Some sorts of harmful arrhythmias could cause sudden cardiac arrest. One harmful arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation. This causes the center’s decrease chambers to flutter wildly as an alternative of pump. They will’t transfer blood out of the center when this occurs. One other harmful arrhythmia known as ventricular tachycardia. This causes the center’s decrease chambers to pump too quick. It could actually additionally trigger the center to not pump blood out of the center.

An AED can detect these arrhythmias. It could actually then give an electrical shock to the center. This might help it cease an irregular rhythm and restart a standard coronary heart rhythm that pumps blood usually.

Utilizing an AED

Anybody can use an AED. Many individuals—resembling first responders, flight attendants, and individuals who work in massive public amenities—are educated to make use of an AED. However AEDs are additionally made for use by folks with no coaching. It is because it may possibly save an individual’s life in minutes. There is probably not time to search out somebody who has coaching. All AEDs include directions. Many AEDs inform the person what to do with voice instructions and make the use so simple as potential. In lots of cases, all it’s a must to do is activate the AED and place the AED electrodes on the particular person. The AED will routinely detect the center’s exercise and both ship a shock or decide that no shock is required. Each time you’re in a public place, search for an AED station. It might save somebody’s life.

AEDs are discovered in lots of public locations the place an individual could have sudden cardiac arrest:

• Airports and airplanes

• Ambulances

• Casinos

• Conference facilities

• Cruise ships

• Hearth engines

• Grocery shops

• Motels

• Places of work

• Police autos

• Public swimming pools

• Faculties

• Buying malls

• Sports activities arenas

• Trains and buses

It is vital to keep in mind that an AED doesn’t substitute CPR. It is used along with CPR. If an individual is unresponsive and never respiration, you should name for assist and begin CPR. Do not delay CPR whereas ready for somebody to get an AED. An AED might be positioned on an individual throughout a pause in CPR. Offering CPR could present sufficient blood circulation till an AED can shock an individual’s heartbeat into a standard rhythm.

You can too purchase and be taught to make use of an AED at dwelling. You could find an AED coaching class in your space by contacting the American Coronary heart Affiliation at 800-242-8721.