Our heart is an electrical pump which under normal condition keeps on generating the electricity, required by the muscle cells for its contraction and thereby producing Heart beat. But sometimes due to problem in electrical stimulation, no Heart beat is produced resulting in condition called Sudden Cardiac Arrest. This reduces blood supply to brain and other vital organs, and subsequently victim may die. It has been estimated that about 90%victims die even before reaching hospital. But thankfully, use of AED brings down the mortality rate considerably. So it is advised to have it wherever possible.
As an extended part of first aid training people can also train to operate automated external defibrillator (AED). In case you are not familiar with the term, an AED is a computerized medical device that checks a person’s heart rhythm and lets you know if they require a shock. The machine actually lets the user know when to administer the shock to the ailing person.
It is fairly simple to use as it utilizes voice prompts, text messages, and lights to let you know what to do next with the person who is having heart trouble. Most places that offer first aid training also offer the AED course separately. It only requires a couple of hours of training and can definitely be the difference of life or death for someone who might suffer a heart attack while in your presence. These machines are very safe, easy to use, and accurate.
First aid training in conjunction with CPR and AED training all go hand in hand and even though AED machines pretty much tell you what to do step by step, the operator of the machinery needs to know that it is indeed the correct time to utilize this. In other words is he sure that this person is having cardiac arrest?
This is why the three components plug in so nicely together, the first aid training teaches you how to recognize a heart attack, the AED training teaches you how to operate the machine, and almost always CPR is involved with this trio so this is why the combination can be so very important. The first aid training along with the other forms of training let you know important factors such as not to use them on children under eight years of age.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), a voluntary health organization that seeks to build a healthy and heart disease-free country, it is possible to save around 20,000 to 100,000 cardiac arrest victims with fundamental training, timely help, and use of onsite AEDs. Use of onsite AED can increase the chances of cardiac arrest patients to survive by as much as 49%.
Conclusion:
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can occur to any person, young or old, male or female, fit or unhealthy. According to statistics, there are about 930,000 victims of heart diseases in America each year. Of this number, 350,000 Americans suffer from cardiac arrest. When immediate help using onsite AED is administered, up to 90% of cardiac arrest victims can be saved.
American Safety Training Institute 