As technology in the medical industry increases we begin to see more and more devices, apps, services and tools used to help save lives during emergencies. The AED has been an invaluable tool in today’s emergency scene’s as it has the unique ability to “Reset” a heart with an abnormal rhythm. There are also a few Hollywood myths about AED’s that we should clear up so that using them becomes a little less scary, just remember “Its not like you see in TV, most of what you see on TV during an Emergency is dramatized to the highest form“.
To clear up a couple questions we get from our students, lets focus on what the AED is supposed to do. AED’s are designed to “Reset” a heart rhythm that is beating abnormally in 2 ways, 1 the heart is quivering like a bowl of jello “Fibrillation” and 2 beating wildly out of control “Tachycardia“. These are the 2 main problematic abnormal rhythms that the AED is designed to look for. Once it finds them it will deliver a “Small” amount of “Amperage” through the chest & Heart causing the heart muscle to contract suddenly. The electrical charge that passes through the heart muscle is designed to work with the heart muscle and “Reset” the rhythm. This may work the first time the victim is shocked or it may take several shocks, the key is to listen to the AED as it will “Talk to you“ and guide you through what it wants.

• The amount of electricity that passes through the heart will be “Small” so will it blow you across the room if your accidentally touching the victim? “NO” The electricity does have the ability to reset a heart so….. “try not to touch them & STAY CLEAR!“
• Will the victim spasm wildly? “NO” the amount of electricity is “small” so you may only see a pectoral flex or slight quiver of their muscles. If they don’t spasm that is normal as many people don’t.
• Is there a recording device monitoring what I say hidden on the inside? “NO” the Public AED device is designed specifically to analyze the heart rhythm, there is no known recording device hidden on the public models. The “Medical AED’s” have a memory card to keep track of what the heart was doing during the emergency for Cardiologists to look over later for irregularities in the heart muscle.

HOW TO USE AN A.E.D “Automatic External Defibrillator”:

1. Open the Case
2. Turn on the AED
3. Listen & Do what it tells you to do “Follow the Diagrams”

***When the AED Prompts you to give a shock, Stand Clear and say LOUDLY “I’m Clear, Your Clear, Everybody’s Clear!” Make sure no one is touching the victim and press the SHOCK button to deliver the shock***

• Continue CPR if the AED tells you too:

Things to consider:

• DON’T STOP CPR while the AED is being put on, you want to continue to pump blood and oxygen to the body, the AED will tell you when to stop. 
• Use the Age appropriate pads for the person you are using the AED on. Adults have larger pads and children have smaller pads. There are normally “NO” infant pads in public AED kits. For infants use the Child pads and place the pads according to the Diagram. **If you don’t have the appropriate age group pad use what you have “Keep the heart /Center of the chest in between the pads” and deliver the shock as advised** “Any shock is better than no shock!!“
• Remove any clothing, hair or objects in the way of the pads like jewellery or medical patches. AED kits are normally stocked with a single disposable razor for chest hair if needed.Things like Pacemakers and Piercings you “Can Not” remove so put at least 1 inch distance between the object and the pad.

In any emergency just remember too:

Protect yourself!!! Call 911!!! Don’t Waste Time!!!

Swoop in and give a breath of life, let first aid training in Edmonton be your Saving Grace!

In our last post we focused on the basic information you would need to know about CPR and how its performed. For this Post we will focus giving you the “Step by Step CPR Guide“. This guideline is for the “General Public” for the Health Care Provider we will have a post later on dedicated to the new standards set by ILCOR, The Heart & Stroke Foundation, and the Basic Life Support CPR-C for HCP’s Health Care Providers guidelines.

In any Emergency remember to:

1. Protect yourself “Make sure its safe before helping“
2. Call 911 “Get your Paramedic Partners going“
3. Don’t Waste Time “Each second without oxygen can cause brain damage, don’t waste it wondering what to do, just help“

If the Baby / Infant is “Not breathing” and has gone unconscious for any reason “START CPR, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation”

CPR “Infant / Baby“

1. Start CPR by:– Place one hand on the forehead to maintain an open airway with a slight head tilt chin lift “like the baby is sniffing“–Place 2 fingers on the middle of the chest just below the nipples.– Push Hard / Push Fast “DO 30 Compression’s in a row at a rough depth of 4cm’s or 1 1/2 inch allowing the chest to recoil or raise up to the top after each compression“
2. Give two Breaths by:– If you have a pocket mask “Use it now” or:– Open the airway by using the “Head-tilt / Chin lift technique-” Seal your lips tightly over the baby’s “Mouth & Nose“– Give two “baby size” breaths, taking about 1 second per breath with just enough volume to make the chest rise up.
3. If your breaths go in:– Repeat the cycle of 30 chest compression’s and 2 breaths– If your breaths do NOT go in: Repeat the cycle of 30 chest compression’s and before giving the next 2 breaths look into the mouth for obstructions. “Choking in infants is very common” remove the object if you see it then continue with 30 compression’s & 2 Breaths.
4. Continue CPR until:– The scene is no longer safe to be in– More advanced care arrives.– An A.E.D arrives and has told you to stop.– You have become physically unable to continue.– The victim starts to breath normally on their own.

Just Remember in Any Emergency: Protect Yourself!!! Call 911!!! Don’t Waste Time!!!

Swoop into First Aid and give a Breath of Life, Let First Aid Training in Edmonton be your Saving Grace.