By Roy Gordon, AHA CPR Instructor/EMT
Stay calm, turn the AED on, and follow the prompts. These simple steps can be the difference between life and death.
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a sophisticated device capable of detecting a lethal heart rhythm called Ventricular Fibrillation. When a heart is “fibrillating,” it hasn’t actually stopped; instead, it is quivering and shaking, unable to pump blood to the brain.
The shock from a defibrillator stops that quivering and allows the heart to restore a normal rhythm. CPR buys the victim time, but the AED is the “reset button.”
The Survival Math: Why Speed Matters
The faster you deliver a shock, the better the chance of survival. The statistics from the American Heart Association (AHA) are staggering:
- Minute 1: 90% chance of survival if a shock is delivered.
- Minute 2: 80% chance of survival.
- The Drop-off: For every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, the chance of survival decreases by 7–10%.
Brain damage can occur in as little as 4 to 6 minutes without blood flow. If an AED is within eyesight, use it first. If the first shock doesn’t work, the AED will tell you to resume CPR for two minutes before it reanalyzes.
Where to Find an AED
Once you take a CPR class, you’ll start seeing AEDs everywhere. They are usually housed in white, eye-level cabinets marked with a heart and a lightning bolt.
Common Public Locations:
- Near restrooms in shopping malls, airports, casinos, and sporting arenas.
- Major retailers like CVS, Target, Home Depot, and Walgreens.
- California Law: Fitness centers, gyms, yoga studios, and Pilates studios are required by law to have one.
Pro-Tip: In an emergency, send someone to the front desk or manager immediately to ask for the nearest AED while you stay with the victim.
Special Case: Emergencies on Airlines
Survival rates for cardiac arrest on commercial airlines are surprisingly low, even though AEDs are required on board. Often, these devices are stored in the rear luggage compartment.
If you witness someone stop breathing or gasping on a flight:
- Lay them horizontally across three seats (with the armrests up).
- While one person clears clothing from the chest, another should be turning on the AED.
- Use the AED first. On an airplane, trying to move a person into the narrow aisle for CPR can take several minutes and cause injury. Immediate defibrillation is the most effective move.
Common Myths vs. Reality
- “I might accidentally shock someone.” Reality: An AED is completely safe. It will only advise a shock if the person’s heart rhythm requires it. It will not allow you to shock someone with a normal heart rhythm.
- “CPR is the cure.” Reality: CPR is a bridge. It keeps blood moving, but the treatment for cardiac arrest is the shock from the AED.
The Future of Survival
Currently, nearly 74% of cardiac arrests happen at home where AEDs are rarely found. Nationwide survival rates are less than 12%. My hope is that one day, AEDs will be as common in homes as fire extinguishers or first aid kits.
If bystander CPR were more consistent and AEDs were more widely available, we could save an estimated 40,000 more lives each year. {3}
Get Certified in San Francisco
The best way to gain the confidence to use an AED is to practice with a trainer in an AHA certification class. We’d love to help you gain that skill at Revive CPR.
Roy Gordon AHA BLS Instructor / EMT 415.637.7382 www.ReviveCPR.com
References: [1,2, and 3 ] provided by The American Heart Association (AHA).
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