Australia's Favourite Online Defibrillator & AED Supplier
Australia's Favourite Online Defibrillator & AED Supplier
Everyone knows defibrillators save lives: the results are staggering.
But who exactly can you use an AED on? We’ve compiled this article to address the laundry list of questions you’ve google and first aid trainers are commonly asked about AED’s.
Whether pregnant, conscious, a dog, or with nipple piercings we’ll learn who you can and cannot defibrillate!
One of the most common questions about defibrillators is whether they can be used on someone who has no heartbeat or pulse. The answer is yes – in fact, that’s precisely what defibs are designed for.
When someone experiences a sudden cardiac arrest, their heart stops beating properly, and they lose consciousness. That means no heartbeat or pulse.
Although there may be no pulse or heartbeat, often the heart will be quivering or shuddering chaotically.
An AED can analyze the person’s heart rhythm and, if necessary, deliver a shock to help restart the heart and turn that chaos into a controlled beat again.
Not all cardiac arrests are the same, and not all of them require a shock from an AED. Some heart rhythms, such as a very slow or absent heartbeat, cannot be treated with a shock. That’s why AEDs are programmed to analyze the heart rhythm and only deliver a shock when it’s needed.
Another common question is whether AEDs can be used on someone who has a pacemaker. The answer is yes – even if someone has a pacemaker, an AED should still be used if they experience a sudden cardiac arrest.
In fact, if someone with a pacemaker goes into cardiac arrest, it’s likely that their pacemaker isn’t working properly, and they need immediate help.
When using an AED on someone with a pacemaker, it’s important to be aware of where the pacemaker is located. Pacemakers are usually implanted under the skin near the collarbone, so they shouldn’t interfere with where the AED pads are placed.
However, if the pacemaker is located close to where the pads need to go, you may need to adjust the pad placement slightly (about 3cm away) to ensure the best possible contact.
Stents are small tubes that are placed in the arteries to help keep them open, often after a heart attack or other cardiac event. Some people worry that using an AED on someone with stents could be dangerous, but the truth is that AEDs can be used safely on people with stents.
What about using defibrillators on someone who has had a heart attack?
During a heart attack, the heart muscle is damaged due to a lack of blood flow, often caused by a blockage in the arteries.
A defibrillator cannot treat the underlying blockage but what it can do is help shock to keep the patient’s heart rhythm and this can keep them alive until the underlying blockage is addressed.
Pregnancy can put extra strain on the heart, and pregnant women are at a slightly higher risk of cardiac arrest than the general population. Fortunately, Defibrillators can be used safely on pregnant women, and in fact, it’s even more important to use one on a pregnant woman.
Pregnant women have a higher oxygen demand due to the growing fetus, which means their heart has to work harder to pump oxygenated blood throughout the body. I
f a pregnant woman experiences cardiac arrest, it’s crucial to restore a normal heart rhythm as quickly as possible to ensure because in the meantime the mother and baby will be consuming more oxygen than the average person.
Also, remember that the electric shock is controlled and runs through the heart, not that fetus. You don’t have to worry about your unborn child receiving the brunt of the shock.
Defibrillators are designed to be used on unconscious people who are not breathing normally. If someone is conscious, it’s unlikely that they are in cardiac arrest, and an AED would not be necessary.
In fact, AEDs are programmed to only deliver a shock if they detect a shockable rhythm, so they won’t shock someone who doesn’t need it.
However, if you’re worried about someone who is experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of a heart attack, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Call emergency services and, if possible, have an AED nearby and ready to use in case the person loses consciousness.
In movies and TV shows, it’s common to see medical professionals using a defibrillator on a patient who has a “flat line” on their heart monitor. However, this is a myth – in reality, a flat line (medical show fans: also known as asystole) is not a shockable rhythm, and using an AED on someone with a flat line will not be effective.
When someone experiences cardiac arrest, their heart rhythm is often chaotic and disorganized, but there is still some electrical activity happening in the heart.
The sooner an AED is used to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm, the better the chances of survival. If the heart has completely stopped and there is no electrical activity (as in the case of a flat line), a defibrillator will not be able to restart it.
However, that doesn’t mean all hope is lost in the case of a flat line. When emergency medical services arrive, they can administer medications like adrenaline that can potentially help restart the heart. The key is to perform CPR and use an AED as quickly as possible to give the person the best chance of survival.
Believe it or not, AEDs can potentially be used on dogs who experience cardiac arrest. A recent study evaluated the use of human AEDs on dogs and found that they were able to successfully record the dogs’ cardiac electrical activity.
The study found that AEDs were able to appropriately recommend a shock in most cases, as long as the dog’s skin was properly prepared. Dogs with long, thick, or double coats needed to be clipped prior to applying the AED pads, and the use of ECG paste helped the AED reading in all coat types.
While more research is needed on the use of AEDs in dogs, this study suggests that in an emergency situation, an AED could potentially be used to help save a dog’s life.
When it comes to using an AED, a dry environment is always best. Water can conduct electricity, so if there is pooling water or the person is very wet, there is a risk of the electrical current from the AED travelling through the water instead of the person’s body.
However, if someone experiences cardiac arrest in the rain or in a slightly damp environment, it’s still better to use an AED than to do nothing.
If possible, move the person to a drier area and towel off their chest before applying the AED pads. (A towlette is often included with defibrillator prep kits)
In a light rain, you can still use an AED as long as there is no pooling water and you’re able to adequately dry the person’s skin.
Let’s be honest, if you’ve read this far, this is the one you are here for.
First Aid trainers get asked this question all the time. While you might be concerned about nipple piercings the good news is that they don’t typically interfere with the device’s functioning. Most nipple piercings are nowhere near where defibrillator pads go.
You wouldn’t want to place an AED pad directly over a nipple piercing, as the metal could conduct the electricity and cause burns, but as long as the pads are placed around the piercing, it shouldn’t be a problem.
It’s important to remember that when someone is in cardiac arrest, every second counts. You don’t want to waste valuable time removing nipple piercings, as the chance of survival decreases by about 10% for every minute that passes without defibrillation.
If you’re not sure about pad placement, just do your best to work around any piercings or jewelry and focus on getting the AED pads on and delivering a shock as quickly as possible.
When it comes to using an AED, there are a lot of factors to consider, but the bottom line is that these devices are designed to be used on anyone who experiences sudden cardiac arrest, regardless of their age, gender, or medical history. Whether someone has a pacemaker, stents, nipple piercings, or even fur and four legs, an AED can be a life-saving tool in an emergency situation.
Of course, one of the best way to be prepared to use an AED is to get trained. Many organizations offer CPR and AED certification courses that can teach you how to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest, perform CPR, and use an AED safely and effectively. By taking the time to learn these skills, you could be ready to save a life when it matters most.
At Defibrillators Online we’re passionate about helping people be prepared for emergencies. That’s why we offer a wide selection of high-quality, easy-to-use AEDs and accessories, as well as training resources to help you feel confident in your skills.
