Using an Automatic External Defibrillator and CPR

During traumatic incidents when sudden cardiac arrest occurs, the heart stops beating or it beats erratically. More than 1,000 people experience cardiac arrest on a daily basis. In remote or austere environments or during accidents or critical events, automatic external defibrillator (AED) along with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) provide the solutions that help save lives. Outside the hospital or ambulance, bystanders trained in either or both often assist until emergency medical technicians arrive.

The AED device shocks the heart into restarting. This electric shock occurs during cardiac arrest. The AED helps restore the heart’s functionality making it beat at a normal rhythm. AEDs are designed for use by people with little to no training. As an automated device, it analyzes whether someone’s heart requires a shock to resume beating.

CPR provides another method to help people undergoing sudden cardiac arrest. Minutes matter when this happens. When CPR is administered within four-to-five minutes, there is a chance that the person will survive. If no help arrives, and the heart stops beating for nine minutes, the brain and the rest of the organs are deprived of oxygen. Irreparable and irreversible damages occur when this happens. When someone collapses, call 911 and then immediately begin administration of CPR, followed by use of an AED if one is nearby.

Helping a Victim of Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Knowing when and how to help someone requires training. Having this knowledge begins with basic education from courses taught by the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. Receiving certification for both CPR and AED enable bystanders and lay people to assist prior to arrival by paramedics.

During CPR, the victim’s heart compresses with manual pumping.  This ensures that oxygenated blood circulates throughout the body. The American Heart Association suggests that rescue breaths are not as critical as compressions. The compressions during CPR must continue until trained medical personnel arrive. The goal is survival, and being the first on the scene to administer CPR with an AED provides the opportunity to save life.

Before administering CPR or using an AED, there are several signals to check if a person suddenly collapses: the person is not breathing, the person’s heart has stopped, labored breathing that sounds like gasping or snorting, or they are not responding to any stimulus.

Using an AED

The AED describes the function of the device exactly. It is automated for bystanders and lay people to use easily. Instructions are provided in audio and written format when the device is activated.

It is used externally on the chest of the person suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. Anyone using the AED understands that it is strictly an external device. There are some cases where a person is wearing a medical alert bracelet or pacemaker that prohibits use of an AED device.

While CPR provides manual compression to keep blood and oxygen circulating through the body, AED actually restarts the heart by way of the defibrillator shock. This shock helps resume the heart’s normal rhythm. The abnormal beating of a heart is called arrhythmia and tachycardia occurs when the heart beats more rapidly than normal. The AED is advanced technology and has the ability to read a person’s heart rhythm. When abnormal heart rhythm is detected, the machine analyzes whether to administer the electric shock. This means there is no guesswork for a person using the device.

The machine comes with clear instructions. These are both audio and visual instructions with illustrations on how to administer the AED. Even people with no prior training in AEDs can comfortably use the device.

More and more, AEDs are visible in public places including shopping malls, parks, schools, grocery stores, airports, workplaces, and even homes. Having the knowledge on when to assist someone undergoing sudden cardiac arrest is a matter of life and death. AEDs are critical tools, so earning certification and training in CPR and AED offers readiness when it’s most needed. Reach Alleanza to learn more about Automatic External Defibrillator and CPR.

CPR And Sudden Cardiac Arrest

CPR Training Saves Lives During Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Critical care medicine takes place anywhere, and that includes in austere environments, remote settings, in urban locations, and during emergencies.

Those trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) help save life especially when someone has sudden cardiac arrest. During this event, the heart fully stops beating or functions erratically.

When someone ceases to breathe and the heart stops functioning, CPR provides critical care prior to arrival of first responders. The minutes between life and death are a goldmine to emergency paramedics and physicians. Getting trained in proper CPR is the difference between life and death; this is not a cliche.

What Is Abnormal Heart Rate

In a healthy adult, the customary resting heart rate centers around 60 beats per minute. For fit athletes, their heart rate may be 40 to 60 beats per minute. Anxiety, stress, exertion or exercise causes the heart rate to increase, while meditation, sleep and rest cause the heart rate to decrease.

When the heart pumps faster due to external factors like caffeine, chemicals or anxiety, people feel poorly. Experts say that consistent heart rates above 100 beats per minute and higher cause tachycardia.

People who consistently have higher heart rates, usually over 100 beats per minute, should consult their doctor to determine the cause of a faster heart rate.

What is Cardiac Arrest

When someone undergoes cardiac arrest, the heart beats erratically or not at all. When the heart stops beating, blood no longer circulates throughout the body’s organs.

In particular, when the brain suffers from lack of blood flow, irreparable and irreversible damage may occur. If someone performs CPR within three minutes, the brain may survive; however, after nine minutes, brain damage likely occurs. This damage is known to be irreversible.

What Happens During CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation manually pumps blood for a non-beating heart. During cardiac arrest when the heart ceases to function, CPR provides a method for the manual pumping of the heart. This manual, systematic compression on the heart enables blood to continue circulating and allows the circulatory system to continue working. With a beating heart, the rest of the body’s systems also continue to function.

A person trained in CPR may also administer rescue breaths in between compressions. When the heart stops, breathing also ceases. The rescue breaths help deliver air into the lungs. Without a beating heart, oxygen no longer moves throughout the body and  lungs deflate.

The American Heart Association emphasizes the importance of compressions during CPR more than rescue breaths. The circulation of oxygen is more critical during CPR than adding more oxygen to the victim’s lungs.

When trained in proper CPR, rescue breaths should be administered at a rate of two breaths for every 30 compressions for adults. For children or babies, administer two rescue breaths for every 15 compressions. Pause only a short time to administer rescue breaths and continue compressions until first responders arrive at the scene. When administered quickly, CPR doubles and perhaps triples survival rates for those in settings outside hospitals or emergency rooms.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest and CPR

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs in homes, schools and workplaces with often inaccessible medical care. People trained in CPR provide the missing link especially when medical professionals are not nearby. As mentioned above, after nine minutes without oxygen, the brain suffers highly consequential damage.

Victims of sudden cardiac arrest have more opportunity to live when a bystander or medical provider administers CPR. Those with CPR training are empowered to assist and save lives during critical incidents. Those without the training stand by helplessly.

The value of CPR to a victim holds no bounds. Circulation of blood from the heart to all organs helps prevent damaging consequences. Moreover, survival rates increase when CPR is administered.

CPR training is an investment for everyone. No one knows when sudden cardiac rest will occur. Having trained medical or non-medical personnel jump in to administer CPR truly is a matter of life or death.

8. CPR Makes Work Safer

There are about 10,000 cardiac arrests in the workplace each year in the United States. Workplace safety is vital for any business. Numerous companies are now training employees in CPR to ensure help is available in the office if a Sudden Cardiac Arrest should occur. When workers have First Aid and CPR training, they help reduce workplace accidents and can even save lives at work. Investing in CPR training for employees shows workers that the company cares about their health and well-being.

9. You May Learn How to Use an AED During a CPR Class

Many CPR classes include AED training. AED shock delivery is a key link in the chain of survival. AEDs are specifically designed to be easy to use but training can provide additional confidence and potentially save precious moments in an emergency.

10. Anyone Can Learn CPR

Fortunately, there are only a few simple things you need to remember in order to recognize SCA and save a life. There are quick and inexpensive CPR classes throughout the United States.

11. You May Learn How to Use an AED During a CPR Class

Many CPR classes include AED training. AED shock delivery is a key link in the chain of survival. AEDs are specifically designed to be easy to use but training can provide additional confidence and potentially save precious moments in an emergency.

12. Anyone Can Learn CPR

Fortunately, there are only a few simple things you need to remember in order to recognize SCA and save a life. There are quick and inexpensive CPR classes throughout the United States. Reach Alleanza to learn more about CPR.