What You Need To Know About Automated External Defibrillators

In many emergency heart attack scenarios on TV, we see this electrical device that zaps a person back to life. If you don’t know what it's called - it’s a defibrillator.

“Defibrillators are devices that restore a normal heartbeat by sending an electric pulse or shock to the heart. They are used to prevent or correct an arrhythmia, a heartbeat that is uneven or that is too slow or too fast. Defibrillators can also restore the heart’s beating if the heart suddenly stops.” - National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

TYPES OF DEFIBRILLATORS

There are a few types of defibrillators:

• Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
• Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
• Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WCD)

Today, we’re going to talk about AEDs.

WHERE TO FIND AEDS?

AEDs are usually found in public areas. This is because AEDs are specifically developed to save the lives of people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest - which usually takes place at public areas at unexpected times. It is also specifically developed in a way that enables untrained bystanders to use it during an emergency.

(Image by Heidi Fin)

HOW DOES AED FUNCTION?

AED is a lightweight, battery-operated and portable device. It checks the heart’s rhythm and sends a shock to the heart to restore the normal rhythm. Sticky pads with sensors, called electrodes, are attached to the chest of someone who is having a cardiac arrest. The electrodes then send information about the person’s heart rhythm to a computer in the AED. The computer analyses the heart rhythm to identify if an electric shock is needed. If needed, the electrodes will deliver the shock accordingly.

CARDIAID AED

SM Health Care carries CardiAid AED. Here are some key things to know about CardiAid AED:

• Works automatically and can be operated by anyone
• Pre-connected electrodes to help save time and maximise ease and efficiency
• Status indicator lights provide easy interpretation of the self-test results
• Guides users step-by-step with a combination of clear voice instructions (in 24 languages), with illustrations and lights for maximum efficiency and clear understanding.
• Combines an accurate ECG detection algorithm with high sensitivity and specificity values
• Paediatric treatment available with special paediatric electrodes - paediatric treatment automatically activates upon paediatric electrodes connection
• Supports up to 200 shocks/20 hours of monitoring
• Remotely monitored - CardiLink; sends notifications with GPS coordinates
• Easily adaptable to future changes in resuscitation guidelines
• Product of Netherlands

In addition, we want you to know that we have a unique maintenance policy which includes a periodical maintenance consisting of battery and electrode replacement as well as special function tests. This is to ensure that your CardiAid AED is always at high-performance. The last thing we want is for a device developed for emergency situations, failing during an emergency.