Australia's Favourite Online Defibrillator & AED Supplier
Australia's Favourite Online Defibrillator & AED Supplier
When you’re faced with an emergency, every second counts. That’s where Defibrillators (AEDs) come in – these life-saving devices are designed to be used by anyone, even if you don’t have medical training.
One of the key features of an AED is its ability to “analyze” the heart rhythm of the person in distress. You don’t need a doctor with you to know when to shock the person, the defibrillator examines the patient and makes the decision for you!
But what exactly does it mean when an AED says “analyze”? What actually happens? Let’s break it down.
First, it’s important to understand what happens during a cardiac arrest. When someone has a cardiac arrest, their heart suddenly stops beating normally.
This means that blood is no longer being pumped effectively throughout the body, and the person may lose consciousness and stop breathing.
Without quick treatment, a cardiac arrest will be fatal.
This is where AEDs come in. These portable devices are designed to deliver a very controlled electric shock to the heart, with the goal of restoring a normal heart rhythm.
Here’s where things get tricky.
Often when people are unconscious their heart might still be beating ok. Giving them a shock wouldn’t be good.
On the other hand: sometimes things will be so bad that a shock won’t accomplish anything and expert help is needed. Or a person could have a very complicated heart rhythm.
That’s why AEDs are programmed to “analyze” the heart rhythm before delivering a shock.
When you turn on an AED and place the pads on the person’s chest, the device will start to “analyze” the heart rhythm. During this process, the AED is essentially doing the work of a doctor by assessing whether the person’s heart rhythm is “shockable” or “non-shockable.”
Here’s what happens during the “analyze” phase:
1. The AED measures the electrical activity of the heart through the electrode pads.
2. The device’s built-in computer algorithm analyzes the heart rhythm to determine if a shock can help.
Let’s geek out medical show lovers.
Common “shockable” rhythms are ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT).
– VF is a chaotic, rapid heart rhythm that causes the heart to quiver instead of pumping blood effectively.
– Pulseless VT is a fast, regular heart rhythm that also prevents the heart from pumping blood effectively.
3. If the AED detects a “shockable” rhythm, it will prompt you to deliver a shock by pressing the “shock” button.
4. If the AED determines that the heart rhythm is “non-shockable,” it will not advise a shock. Instead, it will prompt you to continue performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) until emergency medical services arrive.
The “analyze” function is a crucial feature of AEDs because it takes the guesswork out of determining whether a shock is needed. By automatically assessing the heart rhythm, AEDs allow anyone to provide potentially life-saving treatment without needing extensive medical knowledge.
In fact models such as the Lifeline View even have a digital display that takes things step by step meaning even first timers can save a life.
When an AED says “analyze,” it’s essentially doing the work of a doctor by assessing whether a person’s heart rhythm requires a shock. This innovative feature allows anyone, even those without medical training, to provide potentially life-saving treatment during a cardiac emergency. By understanding how AEDs work and following their prompts, you could help save a life in a critical situation.
We’d love to help you understand more about how to use a defibrillator. We’ve made a great how-to that we think will help you get a handle on saving lives.
