Automated External Defibrillators (AED)

In the medical division one of the products we are marketing in India is the Automated External Defibrillators (AED) of companies from UK and USA, who are leaders internationally in the defibrillator sector for home and public use.

Automated External Defibrillator being offered by our principals is an intelligent device which analyses the cardiac rhythm automatically and decides whether a life saving electrical shock has to be delivered to the victim or Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is to be performed. The device is simple, easy to use, light weight, maintenance free, 5years guarantee, 5 years stand by time and CE approved.

The device guarantees additional security by a guiding tone during the resuscitation and gives clear, calm instructions on how to apply the defibrillation electrodes.

Using Automated External Defibrillator can save a life and is simple and easy to use.

In real life the window of opportunity to save a person with a life threatening cardiac dysrhythmia is measured in a few minutes.

What is sudden Cardiac Arrest?

‘Cardiac’ refers to the heart / ‘Arrest’ means stop. Sudden cardiac arrest’ is the sudden and unexpected loss of heart function in a person. - Signs of cardiac arrest include: no breathing, no movement or response to commands and physical shakes, and no pulse.

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs with a frequency of about 1 per 1000 people, aged 35 years or older, per year. The only way to kick-start the heart in sudden arrest, will be by delivering a shock to the heart  - Automated External Defibrillators, which are portable devices, have become one of the most exciting and effective rescue tools on the market today.’ Scientific studies confirm that defibrillation within the first minute of sudden cardiac arrest can save the lives of up to 90% of its victims. However, with each minute of delay until defibrillation, the survival rate drops by 10% (American Heart Association/European Resuscitation Council).

Selection of AED: Important AED Features:

A number of Automated External Defibrillators are now available and as they vary in price they also vary in features, performance and reliability. When choosing an AED, the decision-maker should look at the features and benefits before looking at the price tag. Important considerations in choosing an AED are:

Will the Automated External Defibrillator work when it is needed it? Is it reliable?

Can the Automated External Defibrillator be easily used in a stressful situation?

Will the Automated External Defibrillator deliver the most effective treatment?

Does it have the best technology available?

As you know there are many cases of sudden heart attacks and no price can be put on the life of a family member or a work colleague. We would be most pleased to explain to you about the simple and easy functioning of the Automated External Defibrillator and let us jointly put efforts in helping our country save a life in  case of sudden cardiac arrest.

FAQs

What is an AED?
An Automated External Defibrillator or AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient.  The AED is able to treat the patient by application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm.  AEDs are designed to be simple so that anyone can use one. 

How does an AED work?
Two pads, connected to the AED, are placed on the patients chest. A computer inside the AED analyzes the patients heart rhythm and determines if a shock is required to save the victim. If a shock is required, the AED uses voice instructions to guide the user through saving the persons life.

Why do we need AEDs?
AEDs save lives. When a person has a sudden cardiac arrest ("SCA"), their hearts regular rhythm becomes chaotic or arrhythmic. Every minute that the heart is not beating lowers the odds of survival by 7% to 10%. After 10 minutes without defibrillation very few people survive.

Who can use an AED?
A wide variety of people around the world are using AEDs, including police and security officers, firefighters, athletic trainers, flight attendants and lifeguards. Newly developed AEDs offer greater ease of use and are designed to allow trained laypersons to respond to cardiac emergencies in public places. Anyone who has completed a short (usually about four hours) training course that covers both AED use and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can use an AED.

How safe are AEDs?
AEDs are very accurate and are designed not to deliver therapy to someone who is not in cardiac arrest. When used properly and with appropriate precautions, AEDs are very simple to operate and pose no risk to either the rescuer or the patient.

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?
Sudden cardiac arrest is when the hearts normal heart rhythm suddenly becomes chaotic. The heart can no longer pump the blood effectively and the victim collapses, stops breathing, becomes unresponsive, and has no detectable pulse. When used on a victim of SCA, the AED can be used to administer a life-saving electric shock that restores the hearts rhythm to normal.

Is sudden cardiac arrest the same as a heart attack?
No. A heart attack occurs when a blood vessel feeding the heart itself is blocked by plaque or a blood clot. The longer the blood flow is interrupted the more extensive the damage done. The majority of heart attack victims survive the first attack. Treatment for heart attack includes angioplasty using a tiny balloon to widen blocked blood vessels and “clot-busting” drugs known as thrombolytics.

Sudden cardiac arrest involves problems with the heart’s electrical system, which can
cause it to stop beating entirely. When that happens, blood flow to the rest of the body is interrupted, and the victim passes out. Defibrillation is the only known treatment for this condition, and AEDs are the quickest and most efficient way to reach individuals with this lifesaving therapy.

Who can have a SCA?
Anyone, anytime. Children can have SCAs, teenagers can have SCAs, athletes can have SCAs, old people can have SCAs. Although the risk of SCA increases with age and in people with heart problems, a large percentage of the victims are people with no known risk factors.

What is the recommended treatment for SCA?
Defibrillation is the only treatment proven to restore a normal heart rhythm.

How much time do I have to respond if someone has a sudden cardiac arrest?
Only minutes. Defibrillate within 3 minutes and the chances of survival are 70%. After 10 minutes, the chances of survival are negligible.

I know CPR; wouldnt it help?
CPR only buys a little more time - potentially giving the victim a small amount of extra time until a defibrillator arrives. But SCA ultimately requires a shock to restore a normal heart rhythm. As a result, most CPR training now also includes AED training.

Can a non-medical person make a mistake when using an AED?
 AEDs are safe to use by anyone who has been shown how to use them. The AEDs voice guides the rescuer through the steps involved in saving someone; for example, "apply pads to patients bare chest" (the pads themselves have pictures of where they should be placed) and "press red shock button." Furthermore, safeguards have been designed into the unit precisely so that non-medical responders cant use the AED to shock someone who doesnt need a shock.

Can the AED itself make a mistake?
It is unlikely. Studies show that AEDs interpret the victims heart rhythm more quickly and accurately than many trained emergency professionals. If the AED determines that no shock is needed, it will not allow a shock to be given.

What else do I need to do to keep my AED in working order?
The pad package must be replaced every two years. Otherwise, the AED performs automatic self-checks on a regular basis to test its operational readiness. If anything is not fully functional, the unit will make a loud chirp and flash a red light warning the owner that servicing may be required.

Why do you need an AED program in the workplace?
Sudden Cardiac Arrest accounts for 13% of on-the-job fatalities.

 Liability - Am I safer with or without an AED?
The increasing number of AEDs in public places, coupled with the fact that AEDS dramatically increase cardiac arrest survival rates may establish a standard of care.