Ventricular fibrillation as well as pulseless ventricular tachycardia can be life-threatening medical emergencies. Both have been credited with leading to Sudden Cardiac Arrest which currently has affected more than 300,000 American lives. It is because of this that the American Heart Association continually seeks various ways on how to make saving a person’s life much easier for bystanders as well as for experienced first responders. This continuing commitment to saving lives has led to changes in how CPR is conducted as well as to the introduction of the AED.
The Automated External Defibrillator, more commonly known as the AED, is a portable electronic device that is used in the assessment of unconscious victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest as well as in the administration of the needed electric shocks in order to help the patient’s heart regain its natural rhythm. One of the things that a user has to keep in mind when it comes to AED is the fact that not all cases would necessitate the administration of electric shocks. With the help of AED, however, can help take the guess work out. This is because most AED models actually provide the responder with an analysis of the patient’s condition. In most instances, the AED would prompt the responder with an audio as well as a visual message indicating what to do next. Of all the SCA cases in the US, recent studies have noted a 74% increase in the survival rate when an AED was put to use. This is as opposed to the mere 5% chances of survival where an AED did not play any part.
Although the AED is able to increase the survival rate in people suffering from AED, timing could still play a part on this survival rate. Most medical professionals recommend administering the AED within 3 to 5 minutes after the patient has become unconscious. This is something that is also applicable when it comes to the administration of CPR. A minute outside of this time frame considerably reduces the possibility of the person being able to pull through from a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. That being the case, it would be beneficial to administrators of AED programs to have the unit situated in areas that is easily accessible to responders. Program managers should also consider the possibility of having more than one AED unit available.
The use of AED is something that is not only recommended for adults. Recently, the American Heart Association has also deemed the use of the AED as something that is fit for children. This is after studies have shown that, in 90% of the cases, the AED is able to correctly indicate that the patient is in need of defibrillation. The AED became even more promising when the same study was able to reflect a 95% accuracy in AED when it comes to indicating cases where defibrillation is NOT needed.
Since AED is not enough when you come face to face with danger, you also have to know how to administer CPR. One of the ways by which you can master this procedure is to undergo CPR training and certification program with Citywide CPR.
