Electrical cardioversion and defibrillation are procedures in the management of. Then, remove the persons tshirt or any other clothing on their upper body before using the defibrillator. Attach it to the victim and use as soon as available. Guidelines for cpr and automated external defibrillators.
Pdf public use of automated external defibrillators. Peel off the sticky pads and attach them to the patients skin, one on each side of the chest, as shown in the picture on the defibrillator. Use the arrow keys to navigate to mode, press the select button, and then use. Most aeds use audible voice prompts to guide the user through the process. You should also take off any metal jewelry, which can conduct electricity. However, even after training, remembering the steps to use an aed the right way can be difficult. How to use a defibrillator british heart foundation. Defibrillators are the devices used to deliver shocks to the heart in cases of life threatening cardiac disorders. In order to help keep your skills sharp, weve created a quick stepbystep guide that you can print up and place on your refrigerator, in your car, in your bag or at your desk. Automated external defibrillator policies and procedures revised 111201 medical necessity for use of aed defibrillation is a recognized means of terminating certain potentially fatal arrythmias during a cardiac arrest. Public use of automated external defibrillators article pdf available in new england journal of medicine 34716. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report. Automated external defibrillator policies and procedures.
A direct current defibrillator applies a brief, highenergy pulse of electricity to the heart muscle. Shows how to use the defibrillator and different ways to place the paddles with discussion of how to choose. Follow the instructions supplied by the defibrillator. This depolarises a critical mass of the heart muscle, terminates the arrhythmia, and allows normal sinus rhythm to be reestablished by the bodys natural pacemaker, in the sino atrial node of the heart. If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, you may need to use an aed automated external defibrillator to restart their heart. Cms agrees that patients do not have to have active heart failure to qualify for an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator aicd but they also do not have to have active heart failure in order to append one of these codes. Fibrillation and defibrillation of the heart british journal of. Currently many manufacturers use productspecific electrode to defibrillator connectors, which necessitates the defibrillation pads also being removed and. Electrodes used in defibrillator a a spoon shaped internal electrode that is applied directly to the heart. Make sure the person is unresponsive, is breathing, and has a pulse. An ecg monitor included is used to verify a shockable rhythm and the effectiveness of treatment. Turn the defibrillator on by pressing the green button and follow its instructions. However, aeds are intended for use by the general public.
Defibrillators can be external, transvenous, or implanted, depending on the type of device used or needed. Indeed, post countershock dysfunction of the myocardium appears to depend on. Emma hammett of first aid for life outlines how to use a defibrillator in the event of a patient going into cardiac arrest. They can be made part of emergency response programs that also include rapid use of 911 and prompt delivery of cardio pulmonary resuscitation cpr. How to use a defibrillator aed first aid training st. European resuscitation council guidelines for resuscitation 2010.