Automated External Defibrillators Nearly 250,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac AEDs do not arrest each year. Once a victim is in cardiac arrest, heart always resuscitate muscle becomes ineffective and is beyond rescue within someone in 10-12 minutes. In most cases, a “rescue” is possible with cardiac arrest; they defibrillation—an action that stops an uncontrolled treat only a heart heart rhythm and allows the normal one to resume. in ventricular fibrillation—an When the heart’s rhythm goes into an uncoordinated irregular heart electrical activity called fibrillation, the heart cannot rhythm. In cardiac pump blood and severe heart attacks often occur. The arrest without victim’s chance of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent ventricular for each minute that passes without defibrillation. After fibrillation, the 10 minutes, there is generally little hope for saving the heart does not respond to electrical currents and, victim. Experts estimate that 100,000 lives could be instead, needs medication. If an AED shock is not saved each year if AEDs were widely used. advised, CPR needs to be started immediately. Without the aid of an automated external defibrillator, AEDs are also less successful when the victim has commonly known as an AED, the chances of surviving been in cardiac arrest for more than a few minutes, a sudden cardiac arrest are 1 in 20. With an AED, especially if cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) however, chances of survival improve dramatically to has not been administered. 1 in 3. Many safety and health associations strongly encourage businesses and organizations to establish Where Should AEDs be Provided? AED programs in their facilities. AED use is an AEDs should be located in places where large groups important step in reducing time to defibrillation and of people gather and the risk of a sudden cardiac arrest improving the sudden cardiac arrest survival rate of incident is very likely. AEDs can currently be found employees and the public. in corporate offices, shopping malls, airports, sports stadiums, schools and community centers. The number AED Functions and Operation of devices in the community will continue to grow An AED is a device that administers an electric shock as more and more people begin to understand the through the chest wall to the heart. Built-in computers importance of AEDs and AED training. The American assess the patient’s heart rhythm, determine if Red Cross has a vision of all Americans being within 4 defibrillation is needed and administer the appropriate minutes of an AED and someone trained to use it, in the level of shock. Audible and visual prompts guide users event of cardiac arrest. All businesses and organizations through the process, so they need not fear forgetting should seriously consider purchasing an AED and how to use the AED during an emergency situation. providing CPR and AED training to multiple employees. Since the AED analyzes the victim’s heart rhythm and advises whether or not a shock is needed, the operator is not faced with the decision of how to correctly Continued administer emergency care. www.emcins.com Automated External Defibrillators According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Cardiac Chain of Survival rules, a physician’s prescription is needed to purchase The previously mentioned cardiac chain of survival is an AED. This means that the medical director of the current treatment for victims of sudden cardiac a facility or a physician used by such facility must arrest. This series of four critical steps must be prescribe and oversee an AED program at any followed to help ensure survival. workplace or other facility that houses an AED. The Step 1. Early access to emergency care (calling 911 or cost of an AED varies among manufacturers, but another emergency number) averages about $3,000 per unit. This is a small price to pay for the comfort of knowing that victims of sudden Step 2. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) cardiac arrest are nearly 7 times as likely to survive. Step 3. Early defibrillation AED Training Step 4. Early advanced life support as needed Although AEDs are designed for ease of use, training The third step, delivering an electric shock to is necessary to understand the role of defibrillation in the heart, or defibrillation, is recognized as the the broader context of the cardiac chain of survival. most critical step in restoring cardiac rhythm and Training in CPR and AED enables the rescuer to use all resuscitating a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. the steps in the cardiac chain of survival, significantly Without the use of an AED, early defibrillation is increasing the victim’s chance of survival. generally not possible. For each minute that passes Organizations such as the American Heart Association without defibrillation, the victim’s chances of survival and American Red Cross can be contacted regarding decrease by nearly 10 percent. CPR and AED training classes. These organizations generally offer half-day courses that teach CPR and AED skills and comprehensive, daylong sessions that also include first aid training. It is important that rescuers be For Additional Information trained in both CPR and AED, since both are required in American Heart Association: the cardiac chain of survival. Most CPR training courses www.americanheart.org now routinely incorporate AED training, due to the increasing presence of AEDs in the community. American Red Cross: www.redcross.org In most cases, EMTs and first responders (police and Occupational Safety & Health Administration: firefighters) are required to know how to use an AED www.osha.gov as part of their job responsibilities. All 50 states now • Technical Information Bulletin – AEDS have AED Good Samaritan provisions that help protect rescuers. Additional information regarding Good Samaritan protection can be obtained from local or state emergency medical services’ (EMS) departments. Home Office: 717 Mulberry • Des Moines, IA 50309 • 800-447-2295 • www.emcins.com Disclaimer: This material is designed and intended for general information purposes only, and is not intended, nor shall be construed or relied upon, as specific legal advice. ©Copyright Employers Mutual Casualty Company 2010. All rights reserved. Image courtesy of National Institutes of Health. 6146 (12-10).