What is an automated external defibrillator (AED)?
Unlike the models of defibrillators intended for use by healthcare professionals (and the ones seen most often on TV), automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are designed to allow minimally trained laypersons to respond to cardiac emergencies, particularly sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). AEDs are about the size of a portable laptop computer and provide a brief, but powerful, electrical stimulation to the chest, interrupting the abnormal rhythm and helping to restore the heart’s natural rhythm. The devices are pre-programmed with the expertise needed to analyze the heart’s electrical function. They also use voice prompts and screen displays to instruct the user on how to operate the device.
Who can use an AED?
Police, firefighters, security officers, athletic trainers, flight attendants and lifeguards in the U.S. and around the world are currently using AEDs. The devices are designed to be used by anyone even those who have not had any prior training. It is considered more effective to try than to do nothing.
How safe are AEDs?
AEDs are very accurate and will not deliver therapy to someone who is not in cardiac arrest. When used properly and with appropriate precautions, AEDs are very simple to operate and pose no risk to either the rescuer or the patient.
Is sudden cardiac arrest the same as a heart attack?
No. A heart attack occurs when a blood vessel feeding the heart itself is blocked by plaque or a blood clot. The longer the blood flow is interrupted, the more extensive the damage done. The majority of heart attack victims survive the first attack. Treatment for heart attack includes angioplasty — using a tiny balloon to widen blocked blood vessels — and “clot-busting” drugs known as thrombolytics.
Sudden cardiac arrest involves problems with the heart’s electrical system, which can cause it to stop beating entirely. When that happens, blood flow to the rest of the body is interrupted and the victim passes out. Defibrillation is the only known treatment for this condition, and AEDs are the quickest and most efficient way to reach individuals with this life-saving therapy.
Haven’t AEDs been in the news recently?
Yes. Two studies reported in the October 2000 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine show that persons with minimal training can successfully use simple, portable defibrillation devices in public places to save lives that might otherwise be lost. Also, the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act, the nation’s first legislation recognizing the life-saving role played by AEDs, now requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop recommendations and guidelines for AED placement and use in federal buildings nationwide and in post offices and other buildings housing federal agencies. (US Only)
