How AEDs are Saving Lives

Automatic External Defibrillators, or AEDs, are found in most City owned facilities & other public places like shopping malls. In fact, AEDs are becoming common place at most workplaces, just like first aid kits. We now include AED training in every first aid/CPR course. This is because they are so easy to use & very effective at saving lives. A person will have 50 – 70% better chance of survival if an AED is used within the first 3 minutes of their cardiac arrest. This is very impressive.

What is an AED? It is an electronic device that is used when someone is in cardiac arrest. The device analyzes the person’s heart rhythm & delivers a shock, if necessary, to keep a persons heart rhythm regular. Think of it as a pacemaker (or implantable cardioverter defibrillator which is a similar device). The most obvious difference is that these devices are implanted in a person’s body, whereas the AED is external (used on the outside of a person’s body).

I had to use an AED once, while performing CPR. I just followed the voice prompts (it was easy to use). Every 2 minutes the device told me to stop CPR so that it could analyze the person’s heart rhythm. In this case, the AED never delivered a shock, as unfortunately no heart beat was detected. Again, a defibrillator does not start a heart that has stopped. It is designed to deliver a shock when an irregular, potentially life-threatening, heart rhythm is detected.

An AED has a recorded voice that will tell you what to do/how to use it. It really is user friendly. In fact on newer models you will hear a recorded voice, can watch a step-by-step video & can read instructions on the bottom of the video screen. You can hear, read  & watch it. 

Sign-up for first aid/CPR/AED training so that you gain the confidence in your ability to save lives. Cardiac arrest can happen to anybody, anywhere & at anytime. Get trained & be prepared. Join us, we offer courses on a regular basis or invite us to your workplace for group training.

If you would like more information about the costs of an AED, follow this link: http://www.go-getters.ca/defibtech-aed-lifeline-view/.  A person’s life is worth the investment.