Simple Steps to Saving a Life with AED

April 25th, 2011 Leave your comment »

The steps to saving a life with an automated external defibrillator (AED) are safe and simple to follow. When a person is undergoing a cardiac arrest, the first five minutes are the most important because if nothing is done within this short period of time, the patient will succumb to death. The first step is to make sure that there are at least two people so that one will call 911 and the other will retrieve the AED. If there is only one person, the first step is to call for emergency response team, then fetch the AED and later check if the patient is breathing.

Performing CPR is simple when AED is readily available. A person needs to check if the patient is still breathing. Most cases, the patient will have difficulties while breathing and they will fall down. Positioning a person for CPR is very easy because you want to put the device on the patient’s chest. This means that the patient should be positioned to lie on her back. The head should be tilted back and chin rose to check for breathing. This check should not exceed 10 seconds because time is an important factor. If the patient on the floor is not breathing, two rescue breaths should be administered. Signs of blood circulation should be checked before attaching the AED. When there no signs, it means that the heart is slowly failing. The AED should be turned on and audio commands followed. The most amazing thing about this device is that it does not require very technical skills to operate it. The audio command does everything and the device first analyzes the heart for a slight pulse which can be shocked.

The device has two pads that should be attached on the patient’s chest. One pad is attached on the right chest upper side while the other one is attached on the lower left side. These pads need to be dry and this means water or sweat needs to be wiped off the patient’s chest before attaching the pads. The pads are labeled and this shows a person where they should be attached. There is a wire that goes to the AED from the two pads. These wires should be attached to the AED for the defibrillator to work.

One of the most important things to note when operating the AED is that nobody should touch the patient while the AED is on. This means that when the device starts to analyze for a pulse, other people near the patient should clear off because the AED will be incorrect and analyze others pulses. The ‘Analyze’ button is clearly labeled and this should be pressed for the AED to automatically start its analysis. The analysis will be complete after a short time and then the audio command will ask for a shock. The shock button should be pressed and then let the AED reanalyze again. This will help save a life and if the patient is not breathing, rescue breaths should be administered until the chest raises and then allow the AED to reanalyze. Once the patient is breathing easily, she should be placed in a resting position and wait for the emergency personnel.

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User-Friendly AEDs Require Little Training

April 21st, 2011 Leave your comment »

Portable defibrillators are very important devices as they can help save lives even in places where medical help is not at hand. They work as emergency measures before the patient suffering receives the right kind of treatment after been saved from sudden death that comes as a result of cardiac arrest. The worst thing about cardiac arrests is that a person could be feeling absolutely fine and the next minutes he or she is gasping for breath hanging onto dear life.

The devices are quite effective and useful as they are very easy to operate and are available in public places nowadays offering the essential services of controlling the heart rate back to normal. Individuals need only know how to start and use the gadgets as they are able to perform the other functions without help.

Research has shown that survival rates for patients suffering from cardiac arrests are higher while in public places compared to situations where they were at home or other places. Since cardiac arrests need immediate attention as life could easily be lost within the first five minutes of the attacks, the portable defibrillators come in handy. These important health devices are nowadays well distributed and available in public places.

The number of cardiac arrests occurring in public places has slowly risen as more people are prone to the attacks. Research has shown that people as young as 18 years of age are now suffering from cardiac arrests as a result of the changing lifestyles. This has come as call and now most public places have the important devices at hand in case the situation calls. Heart diseases, obesity and inactivity are some aspects that have contributed to the increased numbers of cardiac arrests.

Early defibrillation is the key to managing cardiac arrests thereby preventing lives which is why the portable defibrillators were developed. Since they can be used even by people who do not have any medical background, they are very useful devices of saving lives. The survival rates are high in public places since it is highly unlikely that the large crowds in such places would lack a person who knows how to use the devices.

As long as an individual knows how to start and place the device onto the person suffering, it is enough to save the life at hand. The fact is that the device only needs to be started and placed well for it to be in a position to determine whether the person needs the electric shocks and in what wattage the shocks are needed to take care of the problem at hand.

Since more people are taking lesson in understanding and using the defibrillators, there are a number of people in the public crowds that know how to use them when needed compared to the patient being at home or in a place where nobody knows the proper use of the device or there is no device at all. There is therefore a great need to teach people on how to use defibrillators.

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Manual vs. Automated AEDs

April 20th, 2011 Leave your comment »

What is an AED? It stands for Automatic External Defibrillator. Maybe you haven’t thought about using one lately, but knowing more about them may save someone’s life. Defibrillators are used to save lives of people that have had their heart stop or dangerous arrhythmias. You probably think of them being used only in a hospital or by EMTs, but many work places and homes are keeping them close by too.

There are two kinds of Defibrillators. The first is a manual defibrillator. The manual defibrillator is used together with an electrocardiogram device which doctors and technicians use to make a diagnosis. The diagnosis will determine the cardiac condition. These are the traditional “paddles” you see used in a lot of movies. The paddles are used by doctors and EMTs to shock the patient’s heart back to beating again. They’ve been used successfully for years. However, only a trained physician or technician can use them. You have to have training and experience to use manual defibrillators.

The second kind of defibrillator is the Automated External Defibrillator. This is a small electronic unit that is portable. It’s used when someone has had cardiac arrest has or is dangerously close to cardiac arrest occurring. The health professionals are using these more and more because they are so advanced. The difference between this device and the manual defibrillator is that the automated external defibrillator is meant for the ordinary person to use. Even though ordinary people can use them health professionals use them too. They offer the ability to monitor the patient’s conditions and because they are computerized data can be recorded and stored instantly. The professional can instantly see the rhythm of the patient’s heart during CPR as well. So CPR can be stopped when the AED lets the professional know automatically.

What happens when someone’s heart stops in a restaurant, mall or school? If an emergency medical team can’t get there fast enough what can be done? This is why Automated External Defibrillators have become so popular. Restaurants, malls, businesses and homes are investing in this modern device to save lives. Yes anyone can buy an Automated External Defibrillator but it’s important to know about Good Samaritan laws in your state. Each state has different views about helping someone that is injured. It’s a good idea to check your state and laws especially if you have a business. Although the Automated External Defibrillator is widely available, training is strongly advised.

Both the Manual and Automated External Defibrillator use electrical charges or current to stimulate muscular contraction of the heart. Both are used today by doctors and emergency technicians. There’s no doubt though that the Automated External Defibrillator has brought lifesaving hope to many people who otherwise may have died.

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Benefits of an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator

April 18th, 2011 Leave your comment »

Individuals who have heart failure occasionally can have a heart rhythm that is abnormal and this can lead to a heart attack and even death. This means in cases where an individual heart stops, unless immediate intervention is made and the rhythm is restored to normal, they will die. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator works by giving the heart a shock in order to restore the normal heart rhythm. This device is placed in those who survived and abnormal rhythm that may cause a sudden death.

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator also referred to as ICD transformed the treatment for patients who are at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. This device was first introduced in 1980 to humans and has developed from a last resort form of treatment to a prophylactic therapy and first line treatment for those at risk for ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia.

ICD Benefits

The ICD minimizes the risk of provident therapies that are inadequate. The defibrillator checks the correctness of treatment play, classification, episode detection, and IEGM also known as intracardiac electrogram. These devices have to–date provided life saving benefits. Researchers in the cardiac psychology field have stated that an ICD patient’s QoL is equal or better than individuals who take medications that are anti-arrhythmic

Patients who have a defibrillator can perform Just about all types of physical activities. A patient can enjoy all types of sports where there is not risk of damage to the ICD.

Some clinical trials have indicated the significant superiority of the defibrillator over anti arrhythmic drugs for the prevention of malignant arrhythmia death. A trial done in 2005 showed a great morality benefit that was “all-cause” in patients that had defibrillators. Patients that had congestive heart failure and implanted with a defibrillator experience 23 percent less all cause death risk than individuals in the placebo group and a significant reduction in morality of 7.2% points following 5 years in the complete population. A trial done in 1999, consisting of 1,016 patients resulted in those that received AAD treatments having more deaths than individuals with implantable cardioverter defibrillators. In a trial done in 2002, there was benefit within the implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients that had experience myocardial infarction combined with decreased left ventricular function.

Defibrillators were initially implanted through thoracotomy where defibrillator patches were applied to the pericardium or epicardium. Nowadays, most ICDs are transvenously implanted, placed similar to pacemakers in the left pectoral. As technology has advanced, these devices have become less invasive and smaller. Current defibrillators are around 12.9 millimeters thick and weigh 70 grams.

Defibrillators and Women

A recent study has indicated that women who have ICDs do extremely well with this device. This device was once kept for patients who had the worst cases of heart failure. Currently women who receive this type of therapy experienced a 70 percent decrease in the events of heart failure and 72 percent decreased risk of dying from related causes.

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Defibrillators: Learn How to Save a Heart

April 14th, 2011 Leave your comment »

Recent statistics show that 95% of victims who suffer cardiac arrest die before they can be seen at a hospital. However, if the same victim is given CPR or receives the first shock from an automated external defibrillator (AED) within 3-5 minutes, the chances of survival increase significantly and can be as high as 74%.

Defibrillation is a process whereby an electric shock is delivered to the heart to help establish a normal rhythm. In the last few years, small automated external defibrillators have been developed so that the public has access to them if a cardiac event occurs nearby. AED’s are compact, battery operated, lightweight and sturdy.

Automatic external defibrillators are making their way into more public locations each year because of the benefits that they offer. AEDs are easy to use and, should someone desire to be trained, one can learn how to save a heart. AEDs are self-regulated, meaning that they make the decisions for you. They monitor and analyze the victim’s heart rate, and if the AED determines it is necessary to shock the victim, it will walk you through the process. The AED is equipped with a screen you can read, or in newer models, it offers a vocal feature that instructs you what to do and when to do it.

AEDs can now be found in locations such as airports, schools, convention halls, restaurants and sports venues. Some private individuals are purchasing them for home use as well. In order to make them easy to locate, the AED is normally brightly colored and mounted very near the entrance of a building. Once the AED is removed from its holder, and an alarm that alerts staff it has been removed and the possibility of a cardiac event exists. It does not alert emergency services, however, and the user of the AED or someone in the area will still need to alert 911 for emergency response.

When the AED unit is activated, it will then begin its instructions for the user. The first step is to connect the pads, or electrodes, to the victim. This allows the unit to monitor the victim’s heart rate to determine if shock is needed. Once the determination has been made to shock the victim, the unit will charge itself to prepare for the shock. When the unit is charged sufficiently, it will instruct the user to make sure that no one is touching the patient. After the victim is shocked, the unit will then reanalyze the heart rate and rhythm and will give further instructions based on that analysis.

Most states in the U.S. now include the use of AEDs in their “Good Faith” or “Good Samaritan” laws. This means that any person is allowed to use the AED to help someone with a heart attack or other cardiac emergency and they cannot be held civilly liable in the event of death or injury.

A defibrillator can save a heart when used during a cardiac emergency.

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Support Defibrillators in Your Local Community

April 13th, 2011 Leave your comment »

With the increased case of cardiac arrests being reported daily, it is evident that the problem needs to be addressed fast and correctly. Most people are suffering from the condition mainly as a result of changed ways of life although those who suffer from heart conditions and other medical conditions are more prone to the attacks compared to the rest of the people.

There are different types of defibrillators available in the market which have proven to essential in saving lives that could have otherwise be lost. It is no wonder that most public entities are purchasing the devices as well as individuals who feel there is a need to have the devices in the short and long term.

The medical devices are easy to use and require little or no medical knowledge to perform their functions. It does not take medical personnel to save a life using the defibrillators since any person who knows how to use the device can effectively use it when the situation calls. The Automated External Defibrillators are the most common today as they are portable and easy to use. There are however a few things that a person should know about the devices if he or she is to use them right in saving lives.

The very first thing that should be known is how to start the devices. Even though it is not that hard to start the device, people with no idea what should be done to have the device work might find it difficult to use it losing a life in the process. The device comes with a manual although people can also take the initiative of getting proper training on the use of the defibrillators.

The second thing that an individual needs to know is how to place the device on the patient. There is a proper way of placing the device onto to the important body parts of it is to work and perform its function which is resuscitating the heart. The manual coming with the device can be very helpful in this although there is a necessity to get the proper training if a life is to be saved quick and without exposing the brain to any damage that may come as a result of delay.

The last thing is the proper care and maintenance for the device especially for people who purchase it on personal level. Establishments as well should know how to take good care of the devices if they are to perform correctly when needed the most. Most of the available models in the market come with built in self-check systems and following the procedures provided will tell how good the device is in giving the right services. In case there is a faulty message, this means that some components of the device are not working and need to be checked out.

These three things are very important and should not be taken for granted as they could determine the fate of a needy person who is in a desperate situation that needs immediate attention.

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Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)

April 11th, 2011 Leave your comment »

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or ICD is a small mechanical device that is surgically implanted inside the body, usually in the chest or abdomen, and is connected to the heart muscle with wiring known as leads. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator functions to help the person maintain a regular heartbeat. The device is small, and contains two main functioning parts, a generator and what are known as leads. The generator contains a battery and monitors the heartbeat, or heart rhythm, while the leads provide the generator with the electrical information it needs as well as administering electrical shock to the heart muscle if necessary to return it to normal rhythm.

Many people can benefit from an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator if they suffer from sudden cardiac arrest, or SCA, which can be life threatening. The heart muscle has its own electrical system that maintains its beating, or pumping function. The sinus node of the heart causes a cascade of electrical pulses that control the rhythmic pumping of each of the hearts chambers. When this rhythm is interrupted it causes what is known as an arrhythmia, or irregular beating of the heart muscle. This term can mean the heart is beating too slowly, too fast, or simply that it is functioning in an irregular fashion. All of these malfunctions can lead to cardiac arrest as they disrupt the normal circulation of blood through the heart and therefore to the rest of the body.

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator can assist in maintaining a regular heart rhythm by sensing when there is an irregularity and administering an electrical shock directly to the heart muscle to return it to a normal rhythm. The ICD functions first using low energy electrical pulses to the heart muscle. If these do not restore normal rhythms then a higher energy pulse is administered. Some patients report that even though the pulses are extremely fast, they can in fact be painful. However, the ICD is considered being a better alternative to the well-known pacemaker as it can also function as such. The pacemaker generally treats arrhythmias to the upper chambers of the heart alone, and the ICD can function to maintain normal rhythms in both the upper as well as the lower chambers. The ICD is also more beneficial as it can administer both low level and higher level electrical pulses to the heart.

There are many more ways the ICD is beneficial, including helping the patient maintain a somewhat normal lifestyle. Some benefits to the ICD can also include the fact that without one, a person may enter cardiac arrest and if not treated properly or in a timely fashion can die. The ICD prevents the need for using external defibrillators, as cardiac arrest should not occur if the ICD is functioning properly. Someone that has an ICD should maintain good communication with their doctor and should see their doctor regularly so the ICD can be monitored for such things as battery power and if or how many shocks have been administered.

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Should we Include CPR and AED in Public Education?

April 8th, 2011 Leave your comment »

CPR means cardiopulmonary resuscitation and is a lifesaving procedure in emergencies. The procedure is performed on people who have stopped breathing or have no heartbeat like it is common in cases of drowning and electric shocking. This procedure involves the use of breathing techniques meant to provide the necessary oxygen to the patient suffering from the condition allowing proper circulation of blood thereby restoring proper heart neat and breathing.

Failure to offer the procedure when it is most needed could lead to brain damage that could be permanent or even worse; it can cause death since there is no blood flowing to the brain. This means that the procedure is very important in terms of saving lives. The procedures vary according to the size and age of the patient and there is therefore a need to have some kind of training on what’s best and in what situations.

AED on the hand stands for Automated External Defibrillator which is an electric device used to get rid of cardiac arrests. The device works by analyzing the heart situation and determining the kind of wattage in electric current needed by the patient to get the heart beating back to normal. The electric current administered by the device stops the heart and starts it assisting it in beating within the normal rates saving the lives of many people. External defibrillators do not need medical expertise to be used effectively in saving lives so long as there is the knowledge to start them and to place them correctly onto the chest area. They are especially of great importance where no medical facility is nearby and the life could be lost as medical help is called for.

CPR and AED training is important to the public as there is no telling when need might call. There is nothing worse than been caught up in a desperate situation with the right device at hand and then not knowing what to do to save the life of the person in danger. It might take much more than CPR to save the life of a person suffering from cardiac arrests and since AEDs are now available even in public places, there is a great need to train the public on the best procedures and the right precautions to take in such case.

The AED and CPR education should be taken with the same seriousness that first aid is given if at all a great majority of people are to know how to save lives when the situations strikes. Cardiac arrests can occur at any time and place and can attack any person making it very important to have the right knowledge on the use of the devices together with the right breathing techniques to administer to the person as the right person are waited for or as the patient is rushed to the hospital.

The training does not take a long time and the public should therefore undergo the basics of lifesaving using AEDs and CPR techniques. This could be very important in saving the lives of those who desperately need the procedures.

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Defibrillation Awareness Can Ease Public Fear and Save Lives

April 5th, 2011 Leave your comment »

In the world we are living in today, cardiac arrests are very common and can occur at any time. They are caused by abnormal beating of the heart normally hindering it from contracting the way it should be therefore depriving the body from the right amounts of oxygen it needs to keep healthy and promote normal functioning.

When the attacks strikes, resuscitation is needed fast. The person suffering from the attack could easily die within the first few minutes of the attack. It has been proven that six minutes are enough for a person to die after getting the attacks. In case the person survives brain damage is highly likely. This makes it very important to have defibrillators which can help in saving lives when the situation calls for such measures.

More and more people are taking upon themselves to learn the basics of CPR and how to use AEDs as it has proven to be essential. When cardiac attacks occur, it takes much more that CPR to save the life of the person suffering depending on the degree of the attacks. Defibrillators come in handy even in cases where there are no medical personnel in sight thereby saving a life in time.

Most public places nowadays have these important devices including schools, shopping malls, and even sporting grounds. There are individuals who prefer to buy the devices and walk around with them just in case there is a need to use them and save a life that could be in danger. The devices simply work by stopping and restarting the heart helping it in beating normally by using electric current.

The odds of surviving cardiac arrests in public places have proven to be high and much better compared to say a case that occurs at home. This is because most public places now have the devices meaning the right measures can be taken within a few minutes of the attack which is all that it takes to save the life that is in danger. It is highly likely that a few people in the crowds will know the proper and right thing to do when such a situation calls. All it takes is to call 911 and send for an AED as CPR is performed on the person suffering. Just as long as one person knows this simple procedure, a life that could have been lost at home has a higher chance of getting saved.

This has brought the realization that more people need to be trained on how to use the devices apart from knowing how to administer CPR. The defibrillators also need to be made available in all major and even minor public places as they are very useful. It possible to get a personal set as the devices come with very affordable prices and are worth the investment since there is no telling whose life might be in danger. The devices can be easily carried even in personal vehicles just in case there is an emergency.

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Are You Prepared to use an External Defibrillator?

April 4th, 2011 Leave your comment »

Fear and hesitation can happen when it is your first time. Now add to the equation a dying person. Stress is the only term for this situation. Individuals under extreme pressure have slowed thinking and reactions. An AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator. This sweet invention has changed the life of medicine and to individuals who have endured the ravages of a cardiac arrest. It is a voice of hope for you as you are trying to help stop a death.

So what is it?

An AED, or defibrillator, is a device which comes encased in a pretty rugged container. Some AED’s power-up once the case lid is raised, others do not work until the power button has been pressed. Immediately the AED does a self-check, then it is ready to talk to you. A voice, either man or woman in tone, will walk you through the next steps. Even if you have never used one before, the design is dummy proof. The end result is to analyze the heart and to see if an electrical current is appropriate for the victim’s heart or not.

When is it used?

Any time a person falls unconscious for any reason an AED should be attached to the victim. Pads are placed on the upper right near, but not on, the shoulder. The second pad is placed towards the left bottom of the rib cage. The pads have a picture on them, as a visual for you. During this time the AED will analyze the heart. It is checking for very specific cardiac impulses. It is vital to not touch or bump the victim at this time. CPR should not be performed during this, as well.

One of two messages will be delivered at this time. Either you will hear “shock advised” or you will hear “begin CPR”. If it has been identified that a shock would be beneficial to the victim, ABSOLUTELY make sure no one is touching the victim. Ensure everyone is clear of the victim’s arms and legs for they will jerk with the electricity. If anyone is touching the patient they will also receive some powerful electricity which may stop their heart.

I am confused!

CPR mandates once CPR has been initiated to not stop until someone shows up and can help with the compressions. Now the AED makes it so I don’t touch the victim. So which one is it? Do I do CPR or do I analyze. The answer is both. CPR is vital to the circulation of any oxygen in the body at the time of arrest. You have to help the tissue breath. The AED, once it arrives should trump CPR and be allowed to run its diagnostic tests on the person. CPR cannot happen during this time because it may give a false interpretation of the rhythm and ask for a shock when the heart should not have received it. This is horrible for the person you are trying to save.

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