About Defibrillators

Defibrillators are medical devices used to send an electrical current into the chest of a patient suffering from a heart attack. They are a staple in the hospital setting, but since there have been technological advances that now permit laypeople to also operate specific versions of these tools, a number of innovative changes have made these machines more user-friendly. Even as these machines look deceptively simple to operate, it is crucial that proper training takes place prior to a first use.

Types

• There are different types of defibrillators: there are manual external and internal defibrillators, which are a staple in clinical settings, and also the automated external defibrillator, or AED, which is the one specifically designed for use by anyone with just a minimum of training. Implantable defibrillators, known as advanced pacemakers, are only for use by physicians. The one kind of defibrillator laypeople need to learn to use is the AED. Since their lifesaving properties have become known, AEDs are a common fixture in public venues, private homes and the workplace.

Features

• An AED is actually relatively small--commonly the size of a laptop carrying case--and light. Two pads are attached via thin wires to the unit. When the pads are attached to the person's chest and the defibrillator is turned on, the unit automatically assesses the heart rate of the patient and provides the electrical shock required to counteract the heart or ventricle arrhythmia.

Benefits

• Defibrillators benefit patients who experience a sudden case of heartbeat arrhythmias. In these instances the heart may beat too fast, too slow or an irregular mix of both. The anticipated outcome of such arrhythmias is either cardiac arrest or a stroke. Defibrillators are an important tool for anyone in the vicinity of a victim suffering from ventricular arrhythmia as well. Instead of being alerted by the patient that her heartbeat is becoming irregular, ventricular arrhythmia renders the patient unconscious. It is the actual quivering of the heart ventricles in place of the proper contractions, and unless defibrillation takes place, death is imminent.

Considerations

• The American Red Cross (a link is provided in the resources section) released estimates that show 50,000 of the 300,000 Americans who die each year of heart attacks could have been saved with the use of an automated external defibrillator. This compelled the agency to include defibrillator training in their CPR classes for both child and adult CPR. The Red Cross urges schools and those in charge of organizations to prepare some form of AED program that not only teaches everyone in-house how to use the unit, but actually establishes a protocol for the use of the defibrillator.

Geography

• Some would-be CPR performers well versed with the defibrillator are hesitant to actually send the current through an unconscious person's chest for fear of repercussions. After all, if it turns out that they were mistaken in their assessment of the patient and there was no need for defibrillating them--or if they employed the AED incorrectly--they may fear being sued by the patient's survivors. The National Conference of State Legislatures (a link is provided in the resources section) responded to this concern with enacting laws on the use of defibrillators by laypeople. Currently good Samaritan laws protect laypeople trained to use defibrillators in all 50 states from prosecution or civil action if their attempt to save a life does not yield the sought results.