Have you ever noticed those signs hanging on the walls in the mall or airport or event center or any other public place where people gather? You know, the signs that say "AED?" Have you ever wondered what an "AED" is?
AED is an acronym for "Automated External Defibrillator." You know what a defibrillator is, right? That is the medical device you see on the medical shows where they shock the patient's heart when it is not beating correctly.
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From the American Heart Association:
"An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly. If not treated within minutes, it quickly leads to death.
Most SCAs result from ventricular fibrillation (VF). VF is a rapid and unsynchronized heart rhythm that originates in the heart's lower chambers (the ventricles). The heart must be "defibrillated" quickly, because a victim's chance of surviving drops by seven to 10 percent for every minute a normal heartbeat isn't restored."
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How does an AED work?
A built-in computer checks a victim's heart rhythm through adhesive electrodes. The computer calculates whether defibrillation is needed. If it is, a recorded voice prompts the rescuer to press the shock button on the AED. This shock momentarily stuns the heart and stops all activity. It gives the heart the chance to resume beating effectively. Audible prompts guide the user through the process. AEDs advise a chock only for ventricular fibrillation or another life-threatening condition called pulseless ventricular tachycardia.
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Who can use an AED?
Non-medical personnel such as police, fire service personnel, flight attendants, security guards and other lay rescuers who have been trained in CPR can use AEDs.
Although formal training in the use of an AED is not required, it is recommended to help the rescuer increase their comfort and level of confidence. However, AEDs are intended for use by the general public. Most AEDs use audible voice prompts to guide the user through the process.
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Are AEDs safe to use?
Yes, AEDs are safe to use by anyone. Some studies have shows that 90 percent of the time AEDs are able to detect a rhythm that should be defibrillated. This data suggest that AEDs are higly effective in detecting when (or when not) to deliver a shock.
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Where should AEDs be placed?
All first-response vehicles, including ambulances, law enforcement vehicles and many fire engines should have an AED.
AEDs should also be placed in public areas such as sports venues, shopping malls, airports, airplanes, businesses, convention centers, hotels, schools and doctors' offices. They should also be in any other public or private place where large numbers of people gather or where people at high risk for heart attacks live. They should be placed near elevators, cafeterias, main reception areas, and on walls in main corridors.
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Do we have AEDs in McClusky?
Yes, we do. The state legislature provided funding to place AEDs in all public schools. Therefore there is an AED in each of the school buildings in McClusky. In addition to that, there are AEDs located at the following locations in McClusky:
McClusky Senior Center at 202 Ave C West
City Hall - Community Room at 117 Ave B East
Sheridan County Courthouse - 2nd floor - at 215 2nd Street East
Grace Lutheran Church at 402 4th Street West
Kathy Davis Memorial Swimming Pool (Seasonal) at 222 Ave F West (south side of the city park)
And, yes, the ambulance carries an AED and has a backup one. Our EMRs in Goodrich have an AED.
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Where do I get trained in the use of an AED?
The McClusky Ambulance Service holds CPR classes for the public. It is in these classes where you are trained on the use of the AED.
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What is an "AED?"
