What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
Sudden cardiac arrest is a condition where the heart suddenly stops beating and therefore does not pump blood to the rest of the body.
Automated external defibrillators: An AED may save your life or the life of a loved one during cardiac arrest. Weigh the pros and cons to see if you should get one. The fast answer is, yes you should.
If you've ever watched a TV medical drama, chances are you've seen someone shocked back to life by a doctor who yells, "Clear" before delivering a jolt of electricity to the person's chest to get the heart beating again.
The machine being used is called a defibrillator, and its use isn't limited to a hospital setting. Devices called automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can be used at home and in schools and are also found in a number of public places, sadly in Thailand, not in enough public places but hopefully that will change. These lightweight, portable devices are available without a prescription and most companies such as this one, Shamrock Solutions Co., Ltd offer training and all the backup you would need.
When is an AED needed?
AEDs are used to revive someone from sudden cardiac arrest. This usually occurs when a disruption in the heart's electrical activity causes a dangerously fast heartbeat (ventricular tachycardia) or a fast and irregular heartbeat (ventricular fibrillation). If you're having one of these irregular heart rhythms, your heart doesn't pump effectively and may even stop.
When this happens, your brain and other vital organs don't get the blood and oxygen they need, and you can even die if you don't get treatment within minutes. The sooner your heart's normal rhythm is restored, the greater the chance that you won't have permanent damage to your brain and other organs.
If you're having ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia and an AED is nearby, a bystander in a public place or a family member can use it to jolt your heart back to a normal rhythm and possibly save your life.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after cardiac arrest can keep blood flowing to your heart and brain for a time. But often only defibrillation can restore the heart's normal rhythm. Together these treatments can improve your chances of survival.
How to use an AED at home.
If you see that someone has fainted and suspect that he or she may need an AED:
Check to see if the person is breathing and has a pulse.
If you cannot feel a pulse and the person is not breathing, call for emergency help. If there are other people present, one person should call your local emergency services, (in Thailand these phone numbers vary so it's worth doing some research and adding the number to the AED bag} while the other prepares the AED. If you're alone, call the emergency services first to make sure help is on the way.
Turn on the AED. The automated external defibrillator will give you step-by-step voice instructions explaining how to check for breathing and a pulse and how to position electrode pads on the person's chest.
Deliver the shock. When the pads are in place, the AEDautomatically measures the person's heart rhythm and determines if a shock is needed. If it is, the machine tells the user to stand back and push a button to deliver the shock. The AED is programmed not to deliver a shock if a shock isn't needed.
Administer CPR. Start CPR after the shock is delivered if CPR is still needed. The AED will also guide users through CPR. The process can be repeated as needed until emergency crews take over.
The Progetti Rescue Sam at home AED comes with an instructional training video that shows how to use and maintain the device. If you do buy an AED from our team at Shamrock Solutions Co., Ltd, everyone in your home should watch the video and review it periodically or you can ask the team here for initial training, we would be happy to help.
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