Automated External Defibrillator

Description

An Automated External Defibrillator is an AED in short

A lightweight portable medical device used in an emergency. It helps someone whom probability of heart has stopped beating fine – a condition referred to as sudden cardiac arrest. The machine delivers electric shock to the heart in the hope of restarting it into the proper rhythm.

This is something you might have observed in various public places, such as airports, stadiums, or even offices, yet never completely appreciated the great importance: automated external defibrillators are made to be used by anyone-no medical degree or other kind of extensive training is necessary.

Cardiac arrest stands for that condition in which the heart has ceased to function as a pump. This is not to be confused with a heart attack where there is a clogging of the arteries. In reality, cardiac arrest is much more life-threatening in the short-term and deserves immediate attention.

A person going through a cardiac arrest can die within minutes if timely intervention is not received. In fact, each minute of delay in receiving help lowers the chance of survival by about 10%. So, it’s being handy with an AED and knowing how to use it that can really save a life.

How Does AED Work?

Though it may look like a pretty simple box, it houses advanced technology within it. It typically comes with adhesive pads (electrodes) and very often lucid voice and image instructions direct a user through all steps.

Here's how using an AED generally works:
Turn on the device - Most AEDs talk and immediately give instructions.
Attach the pads — One pad on the upper right side of the chest, and the other on the lower left side of the chest.
Let the device analyze heart rhythm — Do not touch the person.
Follow the device’s directions — If it advises a shock, press the button when it tells you to do so. If not, it will direct you to start compressions.

The AED is going to continue giving you directions at every stage up until medical help arrives.

Who Can Operate an AED?

The magic behind AEDs lies in their simplicity. They are designed for use by anyone, even if one has never seen one before. Be it a teacher, student, or perhaps just someone shopping in a mall, you can operate the AED.

Knowing only how to perform basic CPR and AED operation is useful since most AEDs will direct you through it. The more crucial aspect is to act quickly rather than perfectly. Hesitating can waste precious time in situations where every second counts.

Where Are AEDs Placed?

AEDs are normally positioned in crowded places; some of the good locations are:
Airports, Railway stations
Shopping Malls, Complex
Educational places like Schools/Colleges
Workspaces i.e., OFFICE or Industrial Area
Arenas, Gymnasiums
Government Buildings, Museums
Libraries

They’re usually kept in red-colored wall-mounted cabinets or boxes marked with a pictogram of a heart and a lightning bolt. Some signage is also present within the facilities indicating where they are.

After the AED and CPR, emergency responders come quickly. The person is then shifted to some hospital for further treatment.

If an AED has achieved the restoration of the heartbeat, and the patient regains consciousness or spontaneous breathing returns, excellent. The sooner the therapy is commenced, the better chance of complete recovery.

Even if you’re not sure you did everything right, what you do can still make a difference between life and death. It is always better to try something than do nothing.

Would You Use an AED on Your Child?

There are quite some AEDs that have special pads or settings for children. Shocking levels are automatically corrected by these pediatric pads in safety for children. If the child pads don’t exist and the adult pads have to be applied, they can still be used in an emergency if caution is taken. Here time is of the essence in restoring heart function.

An Automated External Defibrillator is not a medical tool; it is a device that saves lives and ignites people in being heroes. Sudden cardiac arrest can hit anybody at any time and place.

You don’t have to be a healthcare professional to make a difference; all you need is to act, and if someone collapses and isn’t breathing well or correctly, find the AED closest to you, follow what it says, and do your best. You could be the difference for someone to get that second chance at life.

Next time you walk past an AED in a public place, take a second to notice where it is. You never know when knowing that location could turn you into a lifesaver.