The placement of AEDs in public places has been of great help to increase the survival chances of a person who unexpectedly suffers to sudden cardiac arrest or any similar life-threatening heart condition. Thanks to the American Heart Association (AHA) and other institutions that support the campaign of saving the lives of people who suffer from and at risk to certain heart diseases. However, it would be a big plus if people are more aware of the purpose of an AED and knowledgeable on how to use this life-saving electronic device.
An automated external defibrillator or AED is basically a computerized medical device intended to provide the electric joules needed by the human heart that ceased from functioning during the attack of a heart disease. In other words, this electronic life-saver equipment could be used to disrupt the abnormal activity of the heart and help resume its normal operation. It is a useful aid for maximizing the success rate of CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Thus, it is best to learn how this electronic device functions and how to optimize its usefulness when it comes to reviving the sufferer’s heart during sudden cardiac arrest.
To start with, switch on the AED and just follow the instructions delivered by the voice prompt along with the visual prompts. You have to wipe the sufferer’s chest to dry it out before applying the device’s pads that will deliver the necessary electric shock to the heart. Use only the prescribed AED pads for children and for adults. For the adult sufferers, just place one pad on his lower left chest and the other pad on his upper right chest. Make sure that the pads don’t touch each other and that nobody touches the victim’s body when this device is used. For children, you can place one pad on the middle of his chest while the other is on his back between the shoulder blades.
Most AEDs today have the ‘analyze’ button. Press this to trigger the device to analyze the sufferer’s heart rhythm and determine the most appropriate amount of electric shock to be applied. If the device indicates that there’s no need to apply electric shock, it means you have to apply 5 cycles of CPR for about 2 minutes. Follow also the further instructions indicated by the device’s voice and visual prompts. When given the chance, it is also advisable to seek help, especially from medical experts or any qualified CPR practitioner while doing the immediate aid for the victim.
If you want to know more about the proper use of AEDs and other related details, get yourself into a training course for AED Medical Oversight and AED Program Management. This would help you become prepared enough and much more knowledgeable as a responsible life-saver for people suffering from crucial heart conditions. You can prefer to settle for an online course, but it would be better to have it onsite. Visit the official site of CityWide CPR to find out what makes an excellent AED Medical Oversight and AED Program Management training program.
