If you have seen movies involving accidents, cardiac arrests and the like, then you might have noticed that device used by paramedics or nurses on dying patients, which sends an electric shock to the body in order to resuscitate life. That device is known as the Automated External Defibrillator or AED.
Here are some things that you need to know with regards to the AED:
- AEDs are used to get the heart beating again. So if a person has stopped breathing and the heart is no longer beating, the use of an AED would be necessary. By sending the electric shock, the defibrillator will help in restoring the normal rhythm of the heart.
- AEDs can be used on victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). This condition is notoriously known in the United States to claim the lives of many individuals every year, accounting for more than the total number of deaths due to other medical conditions combined. The timeframe between an attack and medical intervention must have to be very short so that the life of the victim can be saved. Absent the proper intervention within that timeframe, the victim’s chance of survival becomes slimmer. Hence, the utilization of an AED immediately becomes vital.
- There are AEDs that you can use at home. Look for a home-use AED and as much as possible, try to secure some training in the use of one. However, it does not mean that if you were not able to have some formal training, you will not be able to use it even if there is already an emergency. Modern AEDs are easy to use. They can monitor the heart rhythm and a voice prompt will actually inform you when a shock should be administered.
- The presence of an AED has become a must in areas where many people are found. You can find AEDs in malls, hospitals, public buildings, schools, etc. These establishments have come to ascertain the necessity of a standby AED as time is crucial whenever a person suffers from sudden cardiac arrest.
- If an AED is not available, administer CPR until such device is within reach. Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can be applied until an AED is available. Of course, make sure that you call 911 as soon as the attack happens.
An AED must be made part of your home if SCA runs in the family. This portable device will definitely come in handy whenever emergency cases strike your home. It will save your life and that of your loved ones. It would also help to ensure that you or one of your family member has undergone a CPR training so that you would be able to provide the right kind of support no matter the situation.
