An Automated external defibrillator (AED) provides shock to the heart that can be life saving. It is a portable device used to bring back the normal heart rhythm to someone in cardiac arrest. Being that it is external, it can be attached to the chest to detect the heart’s rhythm while in cardiac arrest and possibly return the heart to beating again with electric shock.
While in cardiac arrest, the brain and other organs lack needed blood and the oxygen and nutrients it carries to sustain life. While in this state of arrest, the body may suffer from permanent damage. Each minute that goes by is very crucial in the chance of survival and how determines how much damage may be done. The sooner that the heart is restored to normal the better. Many times CPR is important in saving a life and keeping blood flowing, but only defibrillation can restore the rhythm of the heart.
Every day around 600 people in the United States die due to sudden cardiac arrest. The most common cause of this death is arrhythmia of the heart and the most common arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation. The only way to reverse the fibrillation is defibrillation, which is an electric impulse given to the heart to restore its rhythm; this being done with the automated external defibrillator.
With an automated external defibrillator close by or on hand, it can quickly be connected to the chest to determine the heart’s rhythm. If the heart can be treated with a shock, the defibrillator will automatically do so. This will reset the heart and possibly save a life.
