Posts Tagged ‘aeds in school’

Support Defibrillators in Your Local Community

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

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.

Increasing the Number of Public Defibrillators

Sunday, March 27th, 2011

People have always been caught off guard when someone falls on the streets due to a heart attack. For many bystanders, the first response is panic and then other people act when they realize that a person will die in front of their eyes when they could have helped. CPR is always the first thing people do when someone they do not know has collapsed. This has helped a lot of people but it is in rare cases because not everyone walking down the street has the required skills to perform CPR. Other people fear that they might kill the patient faster than the heart attack due to lack of skills or they fear doing the mouth to mouth breathing procedure. Increasing the number of public defibrillators is an excellent idea because a heart attack does not give patients a warning. Cardiac arrests are random in occurrence; some occur due to shock, lack of medicine or the abnormal and uncontrolled heart attack.

When the number of public defibrillators is increased, every street, institution or playing field will have the defibrillators. This means that people who have random heart attacks will receive quick medical response because the public defibrillators will be near. The idea is to call for help when a person has collapsed due to cardiac arrest and administer CPR while waiting for the defibrillator to arrive. The device will take two to three minutes to arrive and this depends on the location of the heart attack. A person who falls on the streets will not wait for a long time for the device to be brought and the procedure started. The airport has its defibrillators always ready for emergency purposes. Most schools and playing fields also have such devices. This shows that the public has taken the initiative to save lives while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive. Using a defibrillator is simple and safe because it has an audio command that shows people what to do every single moment.

People have always feared carrying out CPR in public when they are not skilled. This fear has been eliminated by a device that can administer shocks with the click of a button. Emergency personnel will arrive later to take a patient who has experienced a heart attack but before this team arrives, the public has only five minutes to help stabilize the heart rhythms of a person who has collapsed and save a life. These defibrillators are stored in different street corners, train stations, airports and other places because nobody knows when these devices will be used. People who have survived a heart attack because a public defibrillator was used have no complications when they are taken to the hospital. CPR administered by people who are not experienced causes complications when a patient survives. The need for defibrillators in every location is very important because it will save the lives of very many people who need instant medical response. The good thing about an increased number of public defibrillators is that a person can get it while on foot, eliminating the feature of heavy traffic because the devices are within reach.

Are Defibrillators Necessary for High Schools?

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
defibrillators save the lives of teens every year

Saved by a Defibrillator

What is a defibrillator?

Most of us have seen a television show or two where someone, completely untrained, slaps a few sticky pads on a lifeless body, powers up a machine and shocks that person right back to life. What you have witnessed isn’t a trick of the television, it is an actual machine called an Automated External Defibrillator or AED for short. This small piece of equipment is designed to allow laymen to provide lifesaving treatment to those suffering from various types of heart arrhythmia and heart attacks. It is slowly becoming commonplace in many businesses, schools and parks across the country. Still, many of us have never even seen one, let alone had the misfortune to need one.

This was pretty much the state of affairs at my high school last year. I attend a small, private school that is known for its inexpensive tuition rates. As a result, the administration is always struggling to provide the students with everything we need to get a first rate education. The ‘extras’ are often forgotten. Our gym teacher, who also doubles as the schools health adviser, had always included a week long CPR course for every gym class. Last year, she approached the school board about updating some of our equipment and requested funds for an AED. A long battle ensued, with many parents arguing that the money would be better spent on repaving the parking lot or purchasing new uniforms for the basketball team, after all, how many teenagers had heart attacks at school?

AED training

AED training can save lives

“I have a life because my coach used an AED”

The coach finally won and the unit was delivered in time for the start of the school year. There is sat, collecting dust, in her office, until the day it saved my life.

I had a heart attack during gym class, the very thing that all those parents said would never happen did. I died on the floor of my school gym and while several students ran to the office for help and two others rushed for their cell phones, my gym teacher raced to her office, grabbed the defibrillator and hooked me up. The machine did exactly what it is designed to do; it analyzed my condition, delivered the appropriate electrical current to me and got my heart beating again. The paramedics that arrived five minutes later told my parents that it had saved my life. We later discovered I suffered from a congenital heart defect.

Defibrillators in Schools

My point is this, while the likelihood of having to use an AED in a high school is slim, there are cases like mine where one simple machine can be the difference between life and death. If you are ever put in a position to offer an opinion about whether an Automated External Defibrillator should be purchased for your school, church or park, please remember my story. It can save a life! I will be forever grateful to the administration of my school for taking the time to understand how important a defibrillator is and for spending the money to purchase one.

Defibrillator Saves 6 Year Old

Friday, August 7th, 2009

Emiliano Vela is one very lucky little boy. His life was saved thanks to the fact that his elementary school decided to have a defibrillator at their facilities. The decision by Casa Linda Elementary to have an AED on hand is becoming more typical across the country as the benefits of a defibrillator outweigh the costs involved. Kudos to Casa Linda Elementary and congratulations to Emiliano Vela and his vamily.