Increased use of automated external defibrillators can save lives Occasionally, a story comes from someone whose heart has stopped in unlikely situations, and very public places . high school athletes who drop out during football games or basketball, or has had a lacrosse ball on his chest falling during marathon races, getting up to let patrons in restaurants. If emergency personnel already on site, the chances that victims of a heart attack or cardiac arrhythmia survive is obviously better than if we do not know what to do. However, even if someone who knows the intricacies of CPR is present, call 911 and wait until they arrive takes time and can decrease the chances that everything will be alright in the end.
Although the chances of a high school student collapsed during a game or even in the class because their heart has stopped is slim, those who are there when they often wanted someone to testify or something could be done to save the life of that person. In some cases, that something was the automated external defibrillator (AED).
The AED is a portable device that can diagnose heart problems fatal, such as arrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular defibrillation. It treats the person in defibrillation, stopping the arrhythmia by momentarily stunning the heart, a heart that restores effective fight. Because brain damage and death can occur very rapidly when the heart stops, it is imperative that the use of an AED is quick.
They are designed to be used by people who are not emergency personnel and their use is taught in CPR, first responder, first aid, basic life support courses. The simplicity of their use has become a rallying cry, not only those whose lives have been saved, but parents and school administrators who watched as children as young as 15 or 16 deaths due their cardiac arrest.
Therefore, the placement of AEDs is just as important as learning to use them. They were placed in government buildings, airports, shopping malls, casinos, stadiums, schools and universities. What many people would like more of these to be available. There were fundraisers and meetings of the budget for them in all schools, and most states now include "good faith" use, which are covered under Good Samaritan laws. This ensures that the user is not responsible for trying to save someone's life if something goes wrong and sometimes unintended harm to the victim. In addition, the risks associated with AED use are minimal. It is a shock to the operator or others if they are in contact with the person when the AED is in use, and burn the skin electrodes, blood clots, or heart rhythms abnormal.
By increasing the number of AEDs available to the public, perhaps the number of heart attacks or cardiac arrests in public will have a happy ending.
Posted on February 17, 2010.
