About AEDs
What is an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)?
An AED is an easy to use, portable medical device that has been made accessible to the public for the treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest prior to the arrival of Emergency Medical Services. An AED will analyze a heart’s rhythm, determine if there is a life threatening arrhythmia and, if necessary, deliver a shock that might reestablish an effective heart rhythm. It is important to remember that an AED will not administer a shock unless it is appropriate for the victim. A user cannot override the AED to intentionally or accidentally harm someone.
Fortunately, all AEDs work in the same way. The user turns on the AED and follows the voice prompts and visual aids. AEDs can be found at a variety of public locations and are intended to be used by the general population.
What is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)?
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a life-threatening condition where the heart unexpectedly stops beating properly. Some arrhythmias inhibit the heart from being able to perfuse the body with oxygen rich blood.
The abrupt loss of heart function is often characterized by the following symptoms:
- Sudden collapse
- Loss of consciousness
- Abnormal or no breath
- No pulse
Victims of SCA must be treated within minutes for a chance to survive. Rate of survival decreases by 10% with every minute that passes after collapse.
Treatment for SCA includes:
- Recognition of the signs and symptoms
- Calling 911
- Using an AED
- Chest compressions
Cardiac arrest occurring outside of the hospital accounts for more than 300,000 deaths in the United States per year. Rates of survival are doubled when witnesses are able to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) prior to the arrival of emergency personnel. Unfortunately, despite the significance of immediate treatment, only about 35-45% of SCA victims receive early intervention by the lay population.
