More Information: Defibrillators
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.
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 within four minutes though CPR can buy some time.
What do I do if I see someone collapse and there is an AED nearby. Should I use it?
Even if you've had no training in using an AED, the answer is YES. AEDs have built-in instructions that audibly direct the user through exactly how to use it. All the user needs to do is press the "on" button and follow the instructions.
Remember, with any medical emergency, before attempting to help a person, you should first dial 9-1-1.
Good Samaritan laws protect users of AEDs in all 50 states. But some states require AED certification. So if you own an AED, it's best to check with the company selling the device to find out if that's the case.
What is using an AED like?
When you open its box and turn it on, it will tell you to place the pads on the person's chest. It then does an automatic read of the person's heart rhythm and if a serious arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) is present, it will tell you to push the button to deliver a shock. It will then tell you the result and whether you need to repeat the shock.
Couldn't a shock hurt someone?
AEDs only give shocks to patients who have potentially lethal irregular heartbeats. There have been no reports of AED's harming patients.
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.