Fighting Heart Attacks at Home
Every year, millions of people experience a heart attack. Unfortunately, many heart attack victims do not survive because paramedics arrive too late to administer life-saving defibrillation and CPR. Until recently, people with risk factors for heart problems or who had already experienced a heart attack had no other recourse than to just simply cross their fingers and hope.
Today, scientists have developed new technologies that allow people to use a defibrillator in their own home. This device, called an AED (automated external defibrillator) is a simple to use machine that can be used by people with minimal or no training to determine if someone has a cardiac arrhythmia, and if so, to treat it by applying a potentially lifesaving shock to the heart.
Depending on the AED model you select, you may take a short training course or simply read the included directions. Many machines are designed to be very user-friendly, and graphical instructions printed on the AED itself guide a person through the steps needed to perform defibrillation.
When a person suffers a heart attack or certain other conditions, their heart begins pumping in an abnormal rhythm that will eventually cause death. Using an AED, you can quickly diagnose the type of abnormal heart rhythm by applying pads to the chest. If the heart rhythm is of a type that can be corrected by a shock, the machine can then charge itself and deliver a shock via the same pads. It is important to note that after using an AED, paramedics should always be called to examine the person and transport them to the hospital if necessary.
Like other types of medical equipment, an AED needs to be maintained properly to be in good condition to help save lives. Consult your manual to find out the specific steps that will be necessary to provide maintenance to your AED unit. Generally speaking, you will need to examine status indicators on the machine, as well as to examine the expiration dates on AED accessories such as pads, at regular intervals or according to a schedule.
Today, people with high risks for experiencing a heart attack no longer have to worry and wait, because they can have a simple to use automated external defibrillator in their own home to deliver a lifesaving shock in cases of cardiac trouble. The result is better peace of mind and higher rates of heart attack survival.