How To Save A Life With A Defibrillator

Dr. Jon LaPook Reviews Crucial Information About AEDs

(CBS)  More than one million Americans have heart attacks each year. About 300,000 Americans have sudden cardiac death each year. And for about half of them, it was the first sign of any heart trouble.

Over the past decade, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have become increasingly common in workplaces, government buildings, airports and other public places. But still, they are foreign devices to many people. CBS News correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook offers some instruction and advice about how and when to use an AED. It’s easy - just read on for what he has to say, or click the video to watch a demonstration by LaPook and CBS News anchor Katie Couric.

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What is an AED?

Commonly known as AEDs or defibrillators, they are small, portable, electronic devices that can analyze the heart, detect a potentially fatal abnormal rhythm, then deliver a shock that can restore a normal rhythm.

When a patient suffers sudden cardiac death as a result of a heart attack, it’s not the heart attack itself that kills the person - it’s an abnormal rhythm (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) caused by damage to the heart muscle. A heart that is fibrillating beats ineffectively, like a bag of worms. Blood can no longer be effectively pumped to the vital organs and the patient dies. Once fibrillation has occurred, death will almost always follow unless a shock is delivered.

That’s where AEDs come in.

AEDs have been shown to save lives. In general, survival of out of hospital arrest is about 4 to 6 percent. Adding CPR can boost this to about 15 percent, but adding rapid defibrillation raises the save rate to 30 to 40 percent - or even higher.

Once cardiac arrest from an irregular heartbeat has occurred, the sooner an AED is used the better. For every minute of delay from collapse to defibrillation, mortality increases by 7 to 10 percent. Results are best when defibrillation is done within four minutes though CPR can buy some time.

What should I do if I see someone collapse and there is an AED nearby? Should I use it?

The answer is “YES.” I highly recommend that everybody take a course in CPR and AED use. But as Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, told me, even if you’ve had no training in using an AED, you should try to use it if you see somebody collapse.

AED’s have built-in instructions that audibly walk you through its use, step by step. All you have to do is turn one on and listen to the instructions. Some even give instructions on how to do CPR.

Nabel emphasized the importance of calling 9-1-1 first to get help. This is crucial because once you get busy doing CPR or using the AED, you may forget to call for help. Call 9-1-1 first, and help can be on its way as you are trying to revive the victim.

Good Samaritan laws protect users of AED’s in all 50 states. But if you buy an AED then you should check with the company selling it to find out if there are any regulations (such as certification) that you need to know about.



What is using an AED like?

It’s incredibly simple to use because the AED can talk to you. The main thing you have to remember is to hit the on-off button. After that, the machine walks you through exactly what to do, step by step. It will tell you to place the pads on the person's bare chest. It then automatically analyzes the person's heart rhythm. If a serious arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) is present, the AED will tell you to push a flashing button (you can’t miss it!) to deliver a shock. It will then analyze the patient’s heart again and tell you whether you need to repeat the shock.

Couldn’t a shock hurt someone?

AEDs are designed to deliver shocks only to patients who have potentially lethal irregular heartbeats. For example, if a person has just fainted but is otherwise fine, it will tell you that no shock is advised.

Just think: You could save a life.

Where can I find more information?

Search for “AED” or “heart attack” at WebMD.

Visit the American Heart Association’s Web site

Check out the Web site of the American College of Cardiology.

Or go to the Web site of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association.

You can also check out the Web site of the American Red Cross and its course site here.

The American College of Cardiology's CardioSmart site also includes information designed just for patients.

Dr. Jon LaPook © MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Add a Comment

by marymnewman June 28, 2008 12:10 PM PDT

It is good that the public discourse on sudden cardiac arrest is growing. Everyone should learn CPR and how to use an AED. For more information about CPR and AEDs and SCA victims saved by people like you, see www.sca-aware.org.
Mary Newman
SCA Foundation

Reply to this comment

by loneeagle57 June 28, 2008 10:05 PM PDT

oh just hook the victim up to a car battery. same effect

Reply to this comment

by heartsafety June 30, 2008 2:12 PM PDT

In the event of a medical emergency, having an automated external defibrillator (AED) readily available could mean the difference between life-and-death.

For information about purchasing safe and easy-to-use AED''s at the best pricing available, individuals are encouraged to contact LifeGuard Medical Solutions or visit them online. Specializing in providing AED''s to communities, businesses, schools and churches, LifeGuard Medical Solutions was formed as a champion of heart safety in response to the sudden cardiac arrest death of the founder''s father in 1999. Their mission is to raise the public awareness of heart disease and "To Help Save Lives".

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Harvard Reynolds
Founder/Principal
LifeGuard Medical Solutions
Website: www.AEDSupplyStore.com
Email: [e-mail]
Toll-Free Phone: [phone]

Reply to this comment

by cuethebooth June 30, 2008 4:46 PM PDT

If your workplace doesn''t have an AED, you have given the Grim Reaper a key to the door. Nobody wants to admit it, but if there had been an AED within half a minute of Tim Russert, he''d still be the host of Meet the Press. If you are in a city, your EMS rescue unit could be tied up in traffic (anyone in NYC has seen Fire rescue trying to get through gridlock). If you are in a suburban or rural area, EMS could be miles away. How much is your life worth? You can buy an AED for $1200. If you can''t afford it, guilt-trip a civic organization into buying one.
It''s cheaper than a funeral.

Reply to this comment

by cuethebooth June 30, 2008 4:47 PM PDT

If your workplace doesn''t have an AED, you have given the Grim Reaper a key to the door. Nobody wants to admit it, but if there had been an AED within half a minute of Tim Russert, he''d still be the host of Meet the Press. If you are in a city, your EMS rescue unit could be tied up in traffic (anyone in NYC has seen Fire rescue trying to get through gridlock). If you are in a suburban or rural area, EMS could be miles away. How much is your life worth? You can buy an AED for $1200. If you can''t afford it, guilt-trip a civic organization into buying one.
It''s cheaper than a funeral.

Reply to this comment

by mcdononughp July 2, 2008 9:47 AM PDT

An AED is a medical device designed to save lives. A save however is the direct result of solid policies and procedures that include good CPR. In order for an AED+CPR Program to be most effective the proper planning, training, and implementation must be in place. If you need assistance or have questions about implementing an AED CPR Program we are here to help.

Patrick McDonough
Cardio-Life LLC
410-707-1777
[e-mail]

Reply to this comment

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[marymnewman]

It is good that the public discourse on sudden cardiac arrest is growing. Everyone should learn CPR and how to use an AED. For more information about CPR and AEDs and SCA victims saved by people like you, see www.sca-aware.org.
Mary Newman
SCA Foundation

[loneeagle57]

oh just hook the victim up to a car battery. same effect

[heartsafety]

In the event of a medical emergency, having an automated external defibrillator (AED) readily available could mean the difference between life-and-death.

For information about purchasing safe and easy-to-use AED''s at the best pricing available, individuals are encouraged to contact LifeGuard Medical Solutions or visit them online. Specializing in providing AED''s to communities, businesses, schools and churches, LifeGuard Medical Solutions was formed as a champion of heart safety in response to the sudden cardiac arrest death of the founder''s father in 1999. Their mission is to raise the public awareness of heart disease and "To Help Save Lives".

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Harvard Reynolds
Founder/Principal
LifeGuard Medical Solutions
Website: www.AEDSupplyStore.com
Email: [e-mail]
Toll-Free Phone: [phone]

[cuethebooth]

If your workplace doesn''t have an AED, you have given the Grim Reaper a key to the door. Nobody wants to admit it, but if there had been an AED within half a minute of Tim Russert, he''d still be the host of Meet the Press. If you are in a city, your EMS rescue unit could be tied up in traffic (anyone in NYC has seen Fire rescue trying to get through gridlock). If you are in a suburban or rural area, EMS could be miles away. How much is your life worth? You can buy an AED for $1200. If you can''t afford it, guilt-trip a civic organization into buying one.
It''s cheaper than a funeral.

[cuethebooth]

If your workplace doesn''t have an AED, you have given the Grim Reaper a key to the door. Nobody wants to admit it, but if there had been an AED within half a minute of Tim Russert, he''d still be the host of Meet the Press. If you are in a city, your EMS rescue unit could be tied up in traffic (anyone in NYC has seen Fire rescue trying to get through gridlock). If you are in a suburban or rural area, EMS could be miles away. How much is your life worth? You can buy an AED for $1200. If you can''t afford it, guilt-trip a civic organization into buying one.
It''s cheaper than a funeral.

[mcdononughp]

An AED is a medical device designed to save lives. A save however is the direct result of solid policies and procedures that include good CPR. In order for an AED+CPR Program to be most effective the proper planning, training, and implementation must be in place. If you need assistance or have questions about implementing an AED CPR Program we are here to help.

Patrick McDonough
Cardio-Life LLC
410-707-1777
[e-mail]