LESSON 6 AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS AED 2011 National

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

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 6 -2

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 6 -3

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 6 -4

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 6 -5

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% © 2011 National Safety Council 6 -6

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 6 -7

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

AED Use in Children • 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 © 2011 National Safety Council 6 -9 continued

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 © 2011 National Safety Council 6 -10