Last Updated On: September 24, 2024
Accidents can happen anywhere and emergencies can strike when we least expect them. If you found yourself in an emergency and needed to act quickly, would you know what to do?
Every year, over 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States alone. The difference between life and death often hinges on one key factor: the immediate availability of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and someone who knows how to use it.
A victim may die or face irreversible life threats if they do not receive the necessary assistance during such an incident. Certification of CPR/AED is crucial to preserving a person’s life during a cardiac attack. The probability of a person surviving decreases by 7 to 10 percent for every minute that their heartbeat is not restored.
This guide will equip you with the knowledge to confidently use an AED, using your skills to become a potential lifesaver.
The automated external defibrillator, or AED, is a small, lightweight gadget. When it detects an irregular rhythm and restores it to normal, it shocks the heart with electricity through the chest.
AEDs help people who are having a rapid cardiac arrest, which is when the heart stops beating normally all of a sudden. When the heart’s normal electrical system doesn’t work right, this can happen. Heart failure quickly kills people if they are not handled within minutes.
An AED can be fully automated or only partially automated. Semi-automated defibrillators check the heart’s rhythm. If an abnormal heart rhythm is found that needs a shock, the gadget tells the user to press a button to give the shock. Also, fully automated defibrillators look at the heart’s rhythm and give a defibrillation shock if the software tells them to, without the person having to do anything.
An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is a machine that helps the heart restore its normal rhythm by electrically shocking it during a cardiac emergency. Thus, if you are wondering, “What does an AED do?” you need to know how it functions in an emergency.
An AED machine first examines the heart’s electrical activity to assess whether a shock is required. The device then readies itself to deliver a controlled electric shock in the event that it detects a potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmia, such as ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia.
It requires the user to press a button in order to deliver the shock, which attempts to stop the irregular rhythm and allow the heart to restore a healthy rhythm. The steps mentioned below will give you a general idea of how to use an AED machine correctly in a heart emergency. Remember to always stay cool and do exactly what the machine tells you to do.
This list includes the different kinds of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Every kind is designed to fit particular requirements and surroundings, improving accessibility and saving lives during cardiac emergencies.
Fully Automatic AEDs are high-tech medical tools meant to help immediately in cases of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). When placed on a patient’s chest, these AEDs have sensors that instantly check the heart’s rhythm.
If a dangerously irregular heartbeat, such as ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, is detected, the device sends an electric shock to the heart to restore it to its usual rhythm.
One great thing about fully automatic AEDs is that they can be used without using your hands. They only need a little help from the user, so they can be used by untrained onlookers or people who aren’t sure how to give a shock.
Semi-automatic AEDs work much like fully automatic ones, but the person has to start the shock with a semi-automatic AED. Like fully automatic AEDs, these devices use electrode pads to read the patient’s heart rate.
If the gadget finds a rhythm that can be shocked, it tells the user to press a button to shock the heart. This extra step makes sure that the shock only happens when the person using it thinks it’s right.
Once the electrode pads are in place, follow the voice prompts and press the shock button when instructed. This will start the life-saving treatment.
Wearable AEDs are new gadgets that people who are at risk of sudden cardiac arrest can put on. These small, unobtrusive gadgets constantly check the heart rhythm of the person who wears them. If an irregular heartbeat is found, the wearable AED will quickly give a shock to get the heart rhythm back to normal.
Pediatric AEDs are defibrillators specifically made for use with children. Kids’ bodies are smaller than adults, and they need less energy than adults do. Pediatric AEDs give shocks with less energy and are specifically designed to help kids. The electrode pads on these devices are made especially for kids, and the energy levels are adjusted for their small bodies by computers.
The infant pads must be put on the child’s chest correctly. Make sure the pediatric AED is in pediatric mode by following the voice prompts and visual cues on the device. This will ensure that defibrillation is given safely and effectively to pediatric patients in an emergency.
Professional AEDs are more powerful defibrillators used by doctors, firefighters, and other first responders. These devices have many features, such as advanced settings that allow doctors to fine-tune treatment, thorough cardiac monitoring, and data recording.
Healthcare workers get special training on how to use professional AEDs correctly. When these AEDs are used, they provide a lot of information about the patient’s heart rate and other important signs. Medical professionals look at this information to make smart choices about defibrillation and other medical actions that follow. This ensures that patients in critical situations get the best care possible.
Certification of CPR/AED enables people to assist those who are hurt or experiencing a medical emergency. AED can stop more damage, lessen the severity of injuries, and save lives.
More than 15% of Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests (OHCAs) happen in public places. This means that AED plays a big part in early defibrillation.
However, the number of patients who have an AED used by a bystander is still low—only 10.2% of public charges involve this. Therefore, people need to be well-trained in this life-saving technique. Here are some of the advantages of the Certification of CPR/AED course for everyone:
It is not necessary to be an emergency responder, medical professional, or armed forces member to save lives during cardiac crises. If more people were aware of AED/CPR, more cardiac arrest victims would survive. The probability of survival for individuals undergoing cardiac arrest is contingent upon the prompt delivery of emergency medical assistance and the presence of a CPR provider.
The Certification of CPR/AED has no age or educational restrictions. Anyone can enroll in the course regardless of their background. During Certification of CPR/AED training, both theoretical knowledge and real-world experience are imparted.
After completing the course, securing passing marks in the exam is essential. Successful candidates receive a two-year certificate.
Heart attack victims risk developing irreversible brain damage, which would render them bedridden or incapable of performing regular daily activities. Chest compressions administered to cardiac arrest victims help maintain the brain’s oxygen supply, preventing massive cell death.
Patients have a doubled chance of survival if they receive AED in the first two minutes after going into cardiac arrest. The patient will arrive at the hospital on schedule, as planned. Therefore, the body will suffer less and recover faster if defibrillators are started as soon as possible after cardiac arrest. Moreover, there is a lower risk of another cardiac arrest because the brain and heart suffer less.
Heart problems like ventricular arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, or abnormal heart rhythm are often caused by something wrong with the heart’s electrical system or processes. So, people need a defibrillator shock to get their hearts beating normally again.
Understanding how AEDs work is very important for responding to sudden cardiac arrest successfully. Different kinds of defibrillators exist, each with its own benefits and features to meet the needs of patients and places.
The best way to get comfortable using one is to get proper training and Certification in CPR/AED. To learn how to use any kind of AED and get certified, all you have to do is sign up for AED/CPR classes today.
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