Automatic External Defibrillation (AED)

 

           "The successful resuscitation of a patient in cardiac arrest outside the hospital depends on the chain of survival including early access, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early ACLS [Advanced Cardiac Life Support].  Early defibrillation includes the recognition and treatment of ventricular fibrillation, the most common lethal electrical disturbance in the heart, and other rhythms.  The AED allows fro early defibrillation and higher-level care to patients much sooner from basic life support providers.  Defibrillation is the primary intervention that makes the greatest difference in survival of cardiac arrest patients.”  (EMT-Basic Textbook, Mosby, 1996).  Below you will find the step-by-step procedures for operating the AED.  There is no theory, just the steps.  Again, this is NOT a substitute for formal hands-on training, but for information as a memory refresher.

 

h             Assess ABC's as with CPR.

 

h             Perform CPR until AED is attached.

·       If you are the only rescuer, attach AED first.

·       Most AED have voice instructions that will walk you through each step to be performed.

·       Place right pad on upper right chest, left pad on lower right chest.

·       Plug pads into AED unit

 

h             Stop CPR, press "Analyze".

 

h             Shock patient by pressing "Shock" button(s).

·       Ensure no one is touching the patient by saying "Clear" and visually checking to see that no one is in contact with patient.  If anyone is touching patient when shocks are delivered, that person will receive a shock as well.

·       May repeat shocks two times more for a total of three in a row.

·       If AED advised "no shock indicated", check pulse, continue CPR for 1 minute, recheck pulse and reanalyze.

 

h             Check pulses.

·       If present, reassess ABC's and await medical assistance.

·       If absent, continue CPR for 1 minute.

o      Check pulse again

o      If absent, re-analyze rhythm and deliver three more shocks as indicated

o      Check pulse

o      If absent, continue CPR until medical assistance arrives.