AEDs, or defibrillators, are easy to use machines that will shock the heart of a patient to restart it during cardiac arrest.
Because of the importance of these machines immediately after someone has sudden cardiac arrest, states have begun to adopt laws making AEDs accessible to victims who may need them before they can reach a hospital.
Schools, places of public assembly, and health clubs are just a few non-hospital locations that must have an AED available for use in states such as California, New York, Maryland and several more.
People are also buying $1000-$2000 machines for use in their homes and offices.
This brings up some important questions about defibrillators:
Who can buy them?
Pretty much anyone can buy an AED. The FDA regulates AED sales and manufacturing, and may require a person to present a prescription to buy one.
When are defibrillators used?
A defibrillator is used on a person who has experienced sudden cardiac arrest. SCA is when a heart fails to pump blood due to abnormal rhythms. Abnormal heart rhythms can be caused by any number of factors.
How can you tell if someone has SCA and needs to be defibrillated?
Symptoms include shortness of breath, fainting spells, and chest pain. But SCA can occur at any time and the person may be unconscious before you notice any symptoms. SCA can happen to anyone, so age and perceived healthiness of the person are not the best determination of whether someone has SCA.
The AED will do most of the work in recognizing whether a person should be defibrillated. The machine can detect an irregular rhythm and provides instruction to the operator. Although AEDs are fairly straightforward machines, it is still recommended that operators receive training before using one.
Why are people advised to learn CPR in conjunction with AED use?
It is usually recommended that CPR be performed on a victim of Sudden Cardiac Arrest usually before and after defibrillating. CPR helps by delivering blood to the person's brain in the meantime and helps increase the chances that an AED shock will be beneficial.
How do you use an AED?
Although it varies slightly by machine, there are usually 3 steps to operate an AED. First, electrodes are attached to the person and to the machine. Then the machine will check the heartbeat to confirm that a shock is required. If it advises to shock, the operator must push a button to perform a shock.
