The Importance of Training to Accompany AEDs

A defibrillator is a machine that delivers a life-saving shock to a person who is suffering a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), which is when the electrical impulses that control the heart become irregular and the victim’s body begins to shut down as a result.

AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator, and these devices can be found in key locations such as airports, train stations, sports centres, and churches, as well as plenty of other public places. They are designed for use by non-medical professionals, and they differ from the defibrillators that can be found in hospitals or ambulances.

Although AEDs are automated (and easier to use) than the units that you might associate with TV shows such as Casualty and ER, a bit of AED training will streamline the defibrillation process, make you more confident and increase the chances of survival for the victim.

A Leading Cause of Death

The key argument for AED training is that sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the UK. In fact, roughly 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) occur every year. As the name suggests, sudden cardiac arrest will happen suddenly and only take a matter of minutes to result in a fatality. Without immediate treatment, 90-95% of SCA victims will not survive; and for every minute that passes, the victim’s chance of survival will decrease by 10%.

This leaves a very small window of time for the victim to receive proper treatment. With the average emergency-service response-time standing at 11 minutes in urban areas, it is up to witnesses to save the person’s life. If a defibrillator is used within the first three-to-five minutes of the victim falling unconscious, their chance of survival will increase from 6% to 74%.

Chain of Survival

There are certain steps that need to be taken in a certain order to give the victim the best possible chance of survival, and proper training will equip responders for this situation. The following things will need to happen:

Early access and recognition: The first step in treating a person who is suffering a cardiac arrest is to identify that this is actually what is happening. If the victim collapses, falls unconscious, and isn’t breathing, they are more than likely suffering an SCA. Your first course of action should be to phone the emergency services and to give them the opportunity to reach the victim as quickly as possible. Early CPR: Proper CPR works by physically compressing the victim’s heart so that it pumps blood around their body and to their essential organs. This is not a direct treatment for a cardiac arrest, but it should help to keep them alive until a defibrillator can be located. Early defibrillation: It is essential that you can locate your nearest AED. Delivering the shocks early on will increase the victim’s chance of survival. Defibs of this type are automated and will provide step-by-step instructions (verbally or an a display) about how to use them. This process would be much faster with proper training. Early advanced care: This is to be delivered by the paramedics or other medical professionals. They can deliver a more advanced level of care that will improve the victim’s chances of survival.

AED Efficiency

A defibrillator is the only type of device that can be used to save the life of an SCA victim. AEDs are designed in a way that enables them to be used by the general public, including audio and visual prompts that help to deliver proper treatment. When it comes to sudden cardiac arrest, you only have a short space of time to react, and waiting for the prompts can add unnecessary time onto the treatment. With proper training, you can override the instructions and deliver the treatment in a more efficient way, thereby increasing the chances of the victim’s survival.

Whether you’re looking to improve your health-and-safety knowledge, become better at responding to potentially fatal situations, or you just want to kit out your organisation with a piece of life-saving equipment, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at what we offer or head over to the blog for more information on becoming a heart hero.

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