Frequently Asked Questions about Automated External Defibrillators and Sudden Cardiac Arrests.
Why Should I Have an AED in my Home?
Why Should I have an AED Readily Available?
Can AED's be Used on Children?
Recognize the Signs: Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
What Is the Good Samartian Law
Are AED's Easy to Use?
AED's are simple devices to use and require minimal training. All AED's provide audible commands to instruct the care giver during the emergency.
2. Follow voice prompts
3. Place pads on patient
4. If instructed, push "Shock" button
Why Shoud I have an AED in my Home?
People genetically predisposed to heart attacks and those who have been diagnosed as high risks for heart attacks should absolutely consider purchasing an AED device for their home. Per the American Heart Association (AHA) 80% of victims of sudden cardiac arrest collapse in private homes.
During a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) your brain and other vital organs quickly become starved of blood and the life-sustaining oxygen and nutrients blood carries. You could die within minutes or if you survive could sustain permanent damage to your brain and other organs. Having an AED readily available to be applied and a shock delivered within three minutes can mean the difference between life and death.
The time of the first defibrillation is the most critical factor in determining survival rates. For every minute that passes by, the survival rate drops by 10%.
(*Cummins, R.O. 1989. From concept to standard-of-care? Review of the clinical experience with automated external defibrillators. Annals of Emergency Medicine 18: 1269-75.)
What is the differences between a Heart Attack and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
A heart attack which is known as myocardial infarction occurs due to a condition called coronary artery disease. A material known as plaque which is fatty in nature builds along the walls of a coronary artery and when suddenly a part of it ruptures, it leads to the formation of a blood clot which in turn blocks the flow of blood to the heart and results in a heart attack.
Sudden cardiac arrest on the other hand occurs due to a condition called as ventricular defibrillation. The heart begins to beat in an irregular manner also known as arrhythmia and the heart suddenly stops pumping without any prior warning resulting in death. Basically the electric impulses of the heart become irregular and the heart beats in a non –rhythmic way before completing stopping and this condition is known as sudden cardiac arrest.
Though many people mistake a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest to be the same, they are different in many ways. The symptoms, risks and treatment for both these heart conditions are totally different. Basically, a heart attack is caused due to a circulation problem whereas a sudden cardiac arrest is caused due to an electrical problem in the heart.
People who have had heart attacks before or suffer from any heart related problems have the risk of suffering a sudden cardiac arrest as the heart because of suffering an attack functions poorly and irregularly which in turn can lead to a sudden cardiac arrest.
There are several symptoms that a person experiences when having a heart attack like pain in the chest, nausea, fainting, breathlessness and discomfort in other areas of the body whereas a person who suffers a sudden cardiac arrest experiences a loss of consciousness immediately, with no signs of normal breathing.
The best way to treat a person suffering from a heart attack is to give them chest compressions and mouth to mouth resuscitation till help arrives whereas in the case of sudden cardiac arrest, we need to immediately administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation and external defibrillation using Automated External Defibrillators which more commonly known as AED’s
Are AED devices FDA approved?
Yes, all new AEDs in the US market are FDA approved. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first over-the-counter AED for home use in 2004.
All AEDs approved for use in the United States use an electronic voice to prompt users through each step. Because the user of an AED may be hearing impaired, many AEDs now include visual prompts as well. Most units are designed for use by non-medical operators.
Do I need a prescription to purchase a AED?
The Phillips Heartstart Onsite AED does not require a prescripiton. This makes the Phillips Heartstart a popular choice for home use. All other AED's are required by the FDA to have a prescription. All AED purchases from AEDLIFEPOWER include a free prescription.
Why should I have an AED device readily available?
A victim of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) will most likely experience irreversible brain/tissue damage after three to five minutes. For every minute that a victim in cardiac arrest goes without being successfully treated by defibrillation, the chance of survival decreases by ten percent according to the Red Cross. Therefore providing a SCA victim with the appropriate defibrillation treatment within the first three minutes of cardiac arrest is most important to the survival of the victim.
Can AEDs be used on children?
Children over age 8 can be treated with a standard AED. For children ages 1-8, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the pediatric attenuated pads that are purchased separately. If you're purchasing a public access defibrillator or have customers who are children, you can purchase AED PADs or a philips frx child key that will reduce the voltage sent through the pads allowing them to be used for children.
Will the AED automatically shock the patient?
The AED will not automatically shock the patient. It is up to the care giver to press the "shock" button when instructed by the AED. When the care giver presses the "shock" button it's important that the care giver and bystanders are not touching the patient.
What is PAD?
PAD stands for Public Access to Defibrillation. In addition to being carried by police and ambulance crews, the American Heart Association supports placing AEDs in targeted public areas such as sports arenas, gated communities, office complexes, doctor's offices, shopping malls, etc.
As an employer, am I required by law to have an AED device onsite?
Federal and State laws support of AED deployment but many employers are reluctant to make AEDs readily available at the work place in fear of liability. Courts across the nation have acknowledge that AEDs as a "required standard of care" in response to lawsuits arising from situations when individuals have died because AEDs were not available. It is a far greater liability to not have an AED than is it to have one.
The state of Oregon passed a law, Oregon Senate Bill 556 on 1/1/2010, that requires the installation of the defibrillators at “any place of public assembly with a facility of 50,000 square feet or more and with at least 25 individuals present on a normal business day."
All 50 states and the District of Columbia include using an AED as part of their Good Samaritan Acts. These acts vary by state but generally they limit the liability of rescuers using AEDs that act in good faith to aid others who are injure
Where should I locate my AED?
Your AED should be kept in a conveniently located central area where care givers can easily access it within the first few minutes of a patient experiencing cardiac arrest. The location should be clean and dry and the temperature maintained between 50 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
The AED should be easily visible in the event of an emergency. You should place triangular AED signs over your AED so they can be seen from a distance.
If your AED is stored in a location easily accessible public location, then you should store your unit in an AED cabinet. This will keep the AED clean and safe while protecting your investment. In addition, it is highly recommended that you purchase an AED Wall Cabinet with an Alarm. When the AED is removed from the cabinet and siren will sound alerting those in the vicinity of an emergency.
What is the Difference between a Heart Attack and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Though many people mistake a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest to be the same, they are different in many ways. The symptoms, risks and treatment for both these heart conditions are totally different. Basically, a heart attack is caused due to a circulation problem whereas a sudden cardiac arrest is caused due to an electrical problem in the heart.
A heart attack which is known as myocardial infarction occurs due to a condition called coronary artery disease. A material known as plaque which is fatty in nature builds along the walls of a coronary artery and when suddenly a part of it ruptures, it leads to the formation of a blood clot which in turn blocks the flow of blood to the heart and results in a heart attack.
Sudden cardiac arrest on the other hand occurs due to a condition called as ventricular defibrillation. The heart begins to beat in an irregular manner also known as arrhythmia and the heart suddenly stops pumping without any warning. In other words, the electrical impulses of the heart become irregular and the heart beats in a non-rhythmic way before completely shutting down. This condition is known as sudden cardiac arrest.
It's important to know that people who have previously suffered a heart attacker or are genetically predisposed to heart problems have a greater risk of suffering a sudden cardiac.
What is the Good Samaritan Law
Good Samaritan Laws in the United States vary according to the circumstances and the person to whom liability is provided. Many times, people hesitate to help others in need for the fear of being prosecuted later or sued for unintentional injury or wrongful death and as such precious lives can be lost. Good Samaritan Laws also vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and do not cover medical professionals. The Good Samaritan Law protects people who choose to voluntarily help victims to not face legal consequences. If the volunteer is found acting in good faith and within the limits of training, then he need not face legal problems. These laws provide some protection to trained and untrained people during the use of AED’s.
Thus, the Government is taking every measure to see that all help is provided to victims of a sudden cardiac arrest. However, we need to be on our guard and take all precautions needed to avoid suffering from this condition and it is also advisable to learn the treatment methods from a trained professional. These days all schools, workplaces and offices are offering classes to help people learn how to operate an AED. Though some protection is provided under the law for people who want to help a sudden cardiac arrest victim, being prepared beforehand helps in saving the victim in a very effective manner and in a short period of time.
What are the symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
The following are the symptoms which can lead to this condition in the future- people having a family history of heart disease, heart attack or cardiac death, people experiencing sudden fainting spells, shortness of breath an chest pain, having a heart attack can also lead to this condition, having a cardiac ejection fraction of less than 40% and having high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity or high cholesterol are all the risk factors. Any person having these symptoms should immediately get a checkup done by a heart specialist.
The most common symptoms that a person having a Sudden Cardiac Arrest experiences chest pain, an acute pain in the left arm, shoulders or jaw, difficulty in breathing, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, sweating, immediate loss of consciousness, a racing heart beat and if no immediate action is taken then finally the breathing stops and death occurs.
