defabirilator

1. © 2011 National Safety Council
AUTOMATED EXTERNAL
DEFIBRILLATORS (AED)
LESSON 6
6-1

2. © 2011 National Safety Council
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
• Many victims who
receive BLS need an
AED
- Often in cardiac arrest
heart has abnormal
rhythm
• Use AED with
unresponsive victim
who is not breathing
normally
- AED may correct
abnormal heart rhythm
6-2

3. © 2011 National Safety Council
Public Access to AEDs
• Ideally an AED should
reach victim within
minutes
• AEDs available in
many places
• For use by trained
rescuers and first
aiders
6-3

4. © 2011 National Safety Council
Heart’s Electrical System continued
• Ventricular fibrillation common abnormal heart rhythm
after heart attack, electrocution, hypothermia and
other causes
- Ventricles of heart are quivering instead of beating
rhythmically
- In about ½ of cases of cardiac arrest, victim’s heart is in
fibrillation
6-4

5. © 2011 National Safety Council
How AEDs Work
• Automatically checks
victim’s heart rhythm to
detect fibrillation
• Advises whether victim
needs a shock
- The shock (defibrillation)
is an attempt to return
heart to a more normal
rhythm
6-5

6. © 2011 National Safety Council
Time is Important
• AEDs are easy and simple to use but must be used
right away
• With every minute that goes by, survival drops by
about 10%
6-6

7. © 2011 National Safety Council
AED Use in Children
• Follow adult guidelines
for children over age 8
• Sudden cardiac arrest
can occur in younger
children and infants
- SIDS
- Poisoning
- Drowning
- Heart problems
6-7

8. © 2011 National Safety Council
AED Use in Children continued
• Give child two minutes of CPR before using AED
- Unless witnessed that child collapsed suddenly
6-8

9. © 2011 National Safety Council
AED Use in Children continued
• Use pediatric pads
- Smaller
- Produce lower-energy
shocks
- Follow diagram on pads
for placement
• Pediatric pads should
not be used on adults
• If pediatric pads are
not available, use adult
pads
6-9

10. © 2011 National Safety Council
Internal Pacemaker/Defibrillator
• May see bulge beneath victim’s skin
• Do not place AED over area—place it at least one or
more inches away
• If victim’s body is jerking
- Implanted defibrillator may be giving shocks
- Wait until jerking ends
6-10