Sadly, 27% of deaths in Australia are the result of heart disease. Some deaths, however, are preventable. A defibrillator is a medical device that sends electric shock signals to patients with cardiac dysrhythmias and people suffering from cardiac arrest. The electric shocks are high in energy and capable of reviving a lost heartbeat. Defibs Direct Australia suggests that you perform CPR on the patient till the time a defibrillator is arranged. The procedure of using the defibrillator on a patient is known as defibrillation. There are different types of defibrillators available on the market. These include automated external defibrillators, transvenous defibrillators, and implanted cardioverter defibrillators. A defibrillator is chosen based on the situation and the patient’s needs.
If you have wondered about the workings and the use of automated external defibrillators, this article is for you. These types of defibrillators are operated by batteries. They come with both written and verbal instructions for the ease of the person administering the shock to the patient. Now that a basic understanding of this wonder machine has been established, here is how the machine can be put to use.
Method of Using a Defibrillator
If you find yourself in a situation of emergency where the patient needs your help, the first course of action is to administer CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Make sure you do not stop the CPR to find a defibrillator because this can prove fatal for the patient. Ask someone else for help if that is possible. Staying with the patient and administering constant CPR is essential for their survival.
Once you have access to a defibrillator, follow these steps to use it correctly:
Step 1: Press the green button on the defibrillator to turn it on. Follow the instructions mentioned on the machine or its packaging.
Step 2: Peel off the sticky pads of the defibrillator and put them on the patient’s skin. Make sure the pads touch the bare chest of the patient. Place the sticky pads on either side of the person’s chest. Put one pad on the right side of the chest, exactly below the collarbone. Put the other sticky pad on the left side of the chest, just slightly lower than the chest.
Step 3: Once you have successfully placed the sticky pads, the defibrillator will assess the patient and determine whether or not an electric shock is needed. In case the patient does require an electric shock, the machine will ask you to press the shock button. Automatic defibrillators start administering electrical shocks without warning, be sure you are not in contact with the machine when this happens.
Step 4: After feeding the shock waves to the patient, the defibrillator will notify you about the same. It will also instruct you in case you need to continue CPR.
Step 5: Carry on with the CPR until the defibrillator asks you to stop to examine the patient’s heartbeat or if they exhibit signs of life again.
In 2018, upward of 38,000 people in Australia suffered a stroke. With Defibs Direct Australia everybody can use a defibrillator and help out a person in need. No special training is required to do so. It is impossible to give someone an electric shock by accident. This is because the defibrillator checks the patient’s heartbeat before asking you to give them a shock. In addition to this, the device also provides you with clear instructions on what to do.
Why Do You Need a Defibrillator?
Defibrillators are life-savers and are capable of bringing back a lost heartbeat. If you find someone suffering from cardiac arrest, try to find a defibrillator as quickly as possible and help them. Even the minutest difference in the timing can become a matter of life and death. More than 57,000 Australians are at risk of a heart attack. If you’re in the right place at the right time with the right tool, you could save one of them.
