The design of ambulance equipment needs to be lightweight, robust, reliable, easy to use and capable of being operated quickly in emergencies.
In all of these respects, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have become a vital tool not only for ambulances but also in strategic locations in high streets and public buildings.
Whilst there is typically a separation between equipment primarily used by first responders at the scene and those used by an ambulance once it arrives, AEDs manage to bridge the gap and provide vital aid in the critical first moments during a cardiac arrest.
How does it save lives? Part of the reason is in its inherent design, but a much larger part is in its accessibility and ease of use.
What Is An Automated External Defibrillator?
An automated external defibrillator is an easy-to-use electrical device which shocks the heart and restores its natural rhythm if it stops beating.
Whilst a conventional defibrillator is a common fixture in hospitals and ambulances, it is also a difficult piece of equipment to use and requires significant training to avoid injury to either the user or the patient.
An AED, by contrast, has step-by-step instructions and sensors built into its shock pads, which detect various cardiac conditions and automatically apply appropriate electric shocks to allow the heart to return to a normal rhythm.
Who Invented The Automated External Defibrillator?
The AED was initially invented in the late 1970s under the name Heart-Aid, as an evolution of the growing market of portable defibrillators.
In 1957, Frank Pantridge developed the first portable defibrillator, but its usability was limited to trained first responders and paramedics, as the shock procedure required training to do effectively.
Heart-Aid got around this by simplifying the process of application and providing understandable advice for when to do CPR and when to stand back and either press the shock button or let the machine automatically shock the patient.
How Does The Automated External Defibrillator Help To Save Lives?
Much like a heroin overdose, a cardiac arrest needs to be treated in minutes, and in some regions, waiting for an ambulance before giving emergency first aid could risk the life of a dying patient.
Similar to how naloxone (or Narcan) can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose if used within a few minutes, an AED’s use as directed by an emergency services operator can help to remove the immediate danger of a cardiac arrhythmia or arrest.
In the case of a cardiac arrest, a person can die in as little as three minutes, and the longer it takes to start treatment, the greater the chances of long-term health consequences.
An automated external defibrillator, therefore, helps to save lives by putting the power to do so in the hands of a much larger group of people than a conventional defibrillator. If you understand how to do CPR, you can learn how to effectively use an automated external defibrillator.
This means that someone is more likely to be nearby to help if someone else suffers a cardiac arrest, and they are more readily equipped to provide first aid whilst waiting for an ambulance.