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DEFIBRILLATION and AED'S

© Kathleen Newton

We've all seen the medical shows on television where a doctor (or other health care provider) applies paddles to the chest of an unconscious patient, yells "clear!" and then we see the body of the patient recoil. What exactly is going on? What are they doing to that poor patient?

The heart's rhythm is controlled by electrical impulses within the body. During a heart attack, the heart's electrical system malfunctions, causing a rhythm known as VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION (VF). During VF, the heart quivers erratically, with no rhythm and not enough strength to pump blood. Sometimes an electrical shock delivered to the heart will cause a normal heart rhythm to resume.

A DEFIBRILLATOR is a machine that delivers an electrical shock to the heart. Two paddles are applied to the patient's chest and the chock is delivered through the chest wall. The electricity delivered by the defibrillator can travel through the patient and into anything or anyone in contact with the patient. The order "clear!" is to alert any staff in contact with the patient of the impending shock.

Until recently, the only place to see a defibrillator was in a hospital ER. However, with numerous studies proving the life-saving benefits of early defibrillation, AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS (AED's) are becoming increasingly common.

An AED is a small, portable defibrillation device designed to be used by those with limited training. The AED detects the patients heart rhythm and recommends a shock if a life-threatening heart rhythm is detected.

Training for use of an AED mainly consists of machine operation and correct placement of the pads used to deliver the shock. My sister, who is a flight attendant for a major airline, reports the initial AED training for her airline lasted a few hours, with retraining and updates on a yearly basis.

NEXT WEEK: More on AED's and the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act.

GOOD SAMARITAN LAW OF THE WEEK

Wisconsin Statute 895.48

According to the law in my home state, "Any person who renders care at the scene of any emergency or accident in good faith shall be immune from civil liability for his or her acts or omissions in rendering such emergency care".

Of course, as with most G.S. laws, health care professionals providing emergency care for compensation (such as a nurse in the Emergency Room) are not covered under this immunity.

Health care professionals ARE covered under this immunity if voluntary emergency care is provided at the site of a sporting event or contest, and the health care provider does not receive any compensation, other than reimbursement of expenses.

The copyright of the article DEFIBRILLATION and AED'S in First Aid is owned by Kathleen Newton. Permission to republish DEFIBRILLATION and AED'S in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.