Time and again, many doctors call the automated external defibrillator as the ultimate miracles that save the lives of people cardiac arrest patients. Technically speaking, the AED can do just that but this device is a very delicate one that requires proper upkeep and monitoring. Though consider as an electronic lifesaver, did you know that many people have already lost lives because of faulty wirings. It is such a disheartening reality to know that the malfunctioning of a device which is invented to save lives will be the cause of death of many cardiac arrest patients. What ought to be a miracle medical device marked the death of many people due to improper and insufficient maintenance.
According to the most recent news announced by the New York Times, almost a dozen of people has died due to AEDs that short circuited. What many people do not know is that short circuits are one of the most common problems among heart defibrillators. There were also some cases of defective wires that are running defibrillator. This news is especially devastating especially when defibrillators have been looked up to as effective devices that have the potency of saving lives by applying the needed pressure to revive a heart that has stopped from breathing.
The problem with AEDs is not its efficacy, but the maintenance treatment that it needs which it is not given. AEDs are one of those medical devices which are not always good-to-go. From time to time, medical technologists’ advice people and institutions who own AED to have their machines checked for calibration as well as for licensing. It is such as shame to keep up the hopes of people with a device intended to save lives but falls short on the mere purpose that it is expected to deliver.
Due to this very alarming issue, the American Heart Association has issued rules and regulations for the proper upkeep of all automated external defibrillators across the country. AHA is a non-profit organization that fosters and assures appropriate cardiac care to lessen the rate of stability and deaths caused by cardiac arrests and stroke in the United States. It implements programs in order to build healthier lives free from heart diseases and stroke. However, since this condition is a normal occurrence today, what the agency is after is to guarantee that there will be safety measures that can save a cardiac arrest patient at all times. For this reason, AHA has amended the general guidelines on conducting CPR as well as implementing directive to have all AED units in the country inspected, located and monitored at all times. To do this, they have tied up with Citywide CPR in a partnership in an attempt to educate medical practitioners, assistants and even civilians regarding the fundamentals of first aid.
In this mission, the part of the Citywide CPR is to be the trusted national training site that shall provide all the needed lectures, courses, training, certification, monitoring and licensing of all things related to first aid. Available in both traditional and online classes, Citywide CPR offers CPR, BLS, ACLS, PALS, and OSHA training. As for the monitoring of AEDs as suggested by AHA above, they also have an AED Program Management service that provides a holistic approach on the monitoring and licensing of all defibrillators.
To know more about AED Medical Direction Oversight as well as the AED Program Management offered by Citywide CPR, feel free to visit their site.
