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FAQs

Choosing a defibrillator can easily become very confusing with lots of technical jargon and sales waffle. At defibshop.co.uk we try to cut through all this stuff and help you select the defib which best meets YOUR company needs and budget; we don’t favour one manufacturer over another like most other companies.

To help you with this process you need to narrow you sales decision down to 3 things:

  1. Reliability: Will the defibrillator be ready when I need to use it?
  2. Ease of Use: How easy will it be to use in an emergency situation?
  3. Price: How much will my budget allow me to spend?

Our AED Buyer's Guide has been specifically written with YOU in mind and we will help you understand all you need to know to help you make an informed decision. Alternatively, just pick up the phone and one of our team will help you with everything you need to know!

What is an AED?
An AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is a small, lightweight device that analyzes a person's heart rhythm and can recognize irregular heart rhythms such as ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) that are also known as Sudden Cardiac Arrest. AEDs are designed to be used by anyone who arrives first on the scene of a medical emergency, even those with minimal first aid or AED training.
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What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a condition that causes a person’s heart to stop pumping blood because of an electrical malfunction in the heart. This can be caused by many things but the main cause of SCA in adults is a Heart Attack. Electrical chaos ensues, and results in uncontrolled, non-productive quivering of the heart chambers leading to unconsciousness and death in a matter of seconds.
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Is Sudden Cardiac Arrest and a Heart Attack the same thing?
SCA is not the same as a Heart Attack although a heart attack can lead to SCA. A heart attack is caused by a blockage in a coronary artery that supplies blood to the heart. A sustained lack of blood flow and oxygen to a part of the heart causes the heart tissue to die. This can cause SCA to occur.
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Why are Defibrillators important?
When a person suffers from SCA, their chance of survival reduces by between 7- 10% for every minute that passes by without defibrillation. In the UK, approximately 270,000 people a year suffer from SCA but many of these lives could be saved if defibrillators were more readily available.
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Who can use an AED?
Almost anyone can learn to use an AED with approximately 4 hours of training. Aircrew, security guards, police officers, firefighters, lifeguards, occupational first aiders or family members have all used AEDs successfully.
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Will an AED always resuscitate someone in cardiac arrest?
No. The AED will only treat VF or VT. If the casualty is in cardiac arrest without these heart rhythms then the victim needs CPR and medication instead. CPR will help to maintain a shockable rhythm if one is present. Without early CPR the AEDs will be less successful when the victim has been in cardiac arrest for more than a few minutes, especially if no CPR was provided.
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Do I still need to perform CPR?
CPR is vitally important in maintaining a shockable rhythm and, under current guidelines,  should be performed to the ratio of 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths until an AED arrives.  CPR will help keep oxygen flowing to the brain and vital organs, but only the electric shock of an AED will rectify the irregular heart rhythms of VF and VT.
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Who can an AED be used on?
Defibrillation can be used on infants and children as well as adults. If available, paediatric electrode pads should be used as they reduce the amount of energy that the AED will deliver. If they are not available adult electrode pads should be used. AEDs are not recommended to be used on babies under one year of age.
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Do I still I still need to call 999 / 112 for an ambulance?
Yes! Although an AED is the definitive treatment for SCA, the victim still needs urgent medical attention, oxygen and cardiac drugs. An ambulance can take several minutes to arrive so they need to be called as early as possible. The Chain of Survival concept prescribes: Early Access (999), Early CPR, Early Defibrillation, Early Advanced Life support.
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Can I Hurt Someone with an AED?
No. A victim of SCA is for all intent and purposes dead. Use of an AED represents the only chance for survival. AEDs have numerous built-in safeguards and will only shock if the defibrillator detects the shockable rhythms of VF and VT.
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