AED Machines Require Maintenance To Prevent Failure
By Lifesaver Education
One of the leading causes of death in both North America and Europe is sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. Or, more technically correctly, when the heart malfunctions and begins to beat in an arrhythmic way. Most often these rhythms are Ventricular Tachycardia or Ventricular Fibrillation. These are life threatening dysrhythmias that must be treated immediately so as not to result in death. VT (Ventricular Tachycardia) and VF (Ventricular Fibrillation) are what can be classified as “agonal rhythms”--heart rhythms indicative of a malfunctioning or dying heart. The most common and certain lifesaving treatments for these rhythms are shocks to the heart that will reset, or “reboot,” the heart back into a normal sinus rhythm. This can be accomplished in the ER, or with an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), which are becoming increasingly commonly found in public areas such as airports, stadiums, or even your local store.
A myth concerning delivering shocks to the heart, either by AED or “manually” in the ER, is that you can shock a heart that has stopped beating completely (an asystolic heart) “back to life.” This is not the case, a defibrillator can only be employed when the heart produces what is called a “shockable rhythm,” such as VT or VF. As soon as a heart begins to beat in this specific arrhythmic way, medical intervention is immediately required. For each minute of delay between the onset of the rhythm and the treatment thereof, chances for survival decrease by approximately seven to ten percent.
An AED will only deliver a shock if it detects a shockable rhythm, and this is yet another reason why AEDs are crucial devices to have in public places. However, an AED can only save a life it is in proper working order. It has been found that in the last 15 years there have been approximately 1,000 deaths secondary to a malfunctioning AED. Battery failure was the cause for nearly ¼ of these deaths, while approximately the same percentage of deaths was caused by problems with and AEDs pads or connectors. Just as important as actually having and using an AED in public is the fact that the machine needs to be well maintained and in good working order. Maintenance is key in the case of an AED, and with proper upkeep, it is indeed a lifesaver. To learn more about AED machines, visit Lifesaver Education to find the closest Los Angeles BLS class or find an online BLS course which covers information regarding AED machines.
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