Why is AED needed?

Table of Contents

• What is AED? 
• What Is An AED Designed To Do?
• Types of AED Devices 
• Importance of Certification of CPR/AED
• Final Thoughts

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.

What is AED?

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.

What Is An AED Designed To Do?

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.

• Safety First: Before you go near the patient, make sure the area is safe for both of you.
• Call for Help: Right away, call 911 to make sure that professional help is on its way.
• Start the AED: To turn on the AED machine, press the power button. The device will start to play voice directions.
• Show the Chest: Take off or cut through the victim’s clothes to show their bare chest. Make sure the chest is dry.
• Put Pads On: Following the pictures on the sticky pads, put them on your chest in the right place. One pad should go on top of the right chest, and the other should go under the left breast.
• Maintain a Safe Environment: Make sure no one is touching the patient, not even you. Check the area and make sure everyone is okay by speaking out loud.
• Look at the heartbeat: Let the AED examine the heartbeat of the patient being treated. Stay away from the patient while this is being done.
• Give a Shock: If the AED thinks a shock is needed, it will tell you to press the shock button. For automatic types, the shock will happen even if the button isn’t pressed. Once more, make sure everyone has room to stand.
• Do CPR: If you know how to do it, do CPR after the blow. The AED may tell you to keep doing CPR until help comes or until the device tells you otherwise.
• Analyze: The AED will check the heart rate again and again and let the person know if they need more shocks. Keep doing what the device says until the emergency services arrive.

Types of AED Devices

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.

• Full-Automatic AEDs

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

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

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

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 AED

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.

Importance of Certification of CPR/AED

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: 

1. Life-saving CPR

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.

2. CPR Training: Accessible to Everyone.

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.

3. AED/CPR Prevents Brain Cell Failure

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.

4. Fast Healing Process

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.

Final Thoughts

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.

Read More: 

9 Basic Life-Saving Skills That Will Help You Save A Life
What You Need to Know for Effective CPR