Cardiac arrest can occur at any place and when you least expect it, and thus, having a defibrillator, whether at your home, car or public buildings, is mandatory. These devices can save individuals in case of a cardiac arrest in the home or public space.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of defibrillators in emergency response and how they can help save lives – stick around to learn more!
The Significance of Prompt Defibrillation
You have probably heard this time and again, but timely response is critical in emergency situations.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests only have a survival rate of 10%; however, this rate can go four times higher if a bystander witnesses the emergency and uses a defibrillator within the first 5 minutes to administer a shock.
If there is no immediate first aid intervention, this is what will happen to the victim – first, their heart will stop pumping blood and oxygen, which means your most essential organs, including the brain, will be at greater risk. After the first minutes, the chances of survival will be there, but the victim will incur brain damage afterwards. If the cardiac arrest lasts for 8 minutes, death is likely to occur. That means, defibrillation and CPR should be started ASAP to give high energy shock to the heart and make it start beating again.
Importance of Defibrillators
Increased Survival Rates
As mentioned earlier, defibrillators for emergencies can increase the survival rate by four times the hire rate. According to a study aimed to assess the effectiveness of defibrillators, the survival rate was reduced by 10% per minute when defibrillation was delayed. The survival rate increased to 25.5% when a defibrillator was used immediately and 33% higher when CPR and chest compression were combined properly.
Having an automated Heartsine defibrillator at hand means that you are in a better position to administer CPR within the first 5 minutes and restore the victim’s normal heart rhythm without causing any brain damage.
User Friendly Design
If you are ever in a position where you need to use a defibrillator, trust your gut and use it. Yes, you don’t need training for effective use of a defibrillator, as many options like Heartsine 360p defibrillators and more come with easy-to-follow visual & verbal guides. While calling an ambulance may seem like the wisest decision at the moment, the victim will only be at risk of death. You only have at least 5 minutes to save the person, and the ambulance may take longer. Not to worry!
Automated external defibrillators have user-friendly features, including audio prompts, text prompts, and visual prompts. Once the device is on, you will have a voice instructing you on what to do. All you will need to do is ensure that the victim’s chest is bare to provide secure placement of the electrode pads, which will scan for the heart rhythm to determine whether a shock is needed. If a shock is required, the device will automatically administer the shock. If you are using a semi-defibrillator, a voice prompt will alert you to push the button.
Portable and Versatile
Automated external defibrillators are lightweight and can weigh as low as 2.1 Ibs. So, if you are afraid they will be heavy to carry around or you will have a hard time placing them on the victim’s chest, that shouldn’t be an issue. They are portable and are easy to store without taking much of the space.
Before you order a defibrillator for an emergency online, we recommend you review the weights and sizes available. Pictures can be misleading, so check the size and weight. Keep in mind that a small size will always be lighter.
Minimal Risk of Harm
Frankly, a lot of health damage can occur if a defibrillator isn’t used immediately. Once your heart stops pumping blood and oxygen, most of your vital organs become deprived. The most common health damage that occurs after the first 5 minutes is brain damage. Restoring the heart’s normal rhythm using a Heartsine defibrillator helps minimize such risks.
Common Myths and Misconceptions About Defibrillators
Defibrillators are Hard to Operate
We bet everyone here thinks that you need to have completed a training course in order to use a defibrillator. That’s not the case. In fact, it’s more like you have a person to guide you through the process. It’s just that it’s not an ideal person but a voice guiding you every step of the way.
Plus, they are readily available in most public buildings, so you can just grab them to test. However, there is no harm if you need training to be fully prepared. You can check out the most suitable course for you online.
You Will Only Make Things Worse
It’s better to try and save a life than to watch a person die with a defibrillator within your reach. We mean to say that if you don’t use the defibrillator, the victim will die. Plus, to calm your mind, the defibrillator for an emergency will not let you administer the shock if it’s not needed. All you need to do is apply the pads to the chest, switch on the machine, and let it guide you. What could go wrong with that?
A Defibrillator Will Always Restore the Heart’s Rhythm
Using an automated external defibrillator like Heartsine 360p increases the survival rate, giving the victim the best possible chance. It doesn’t always guarantee that the person will be back to life once the shocks are administered.
Accessibility of Defibrillators in Public Spaces Can Save Lives
The survival rates are four times higher if the emergency is witnessed by bystanders. However, this requires a defibrillator to be nearby and for the bystander to be confident using it. Now, of the 400 cardiac arrests that occur weekly across Australia, nine are treated with publicly accessible defibrillators. That said, increasing accessibility in public spaces, including school and commercial buildings, can double the survival rate of cardiac arrest.
Now that you have seen the importance of defibrillators, are you ready to equip yourself with one and keep your loved ones safe? If yes, explore Heartsine 360p defibrillators and other automated external defibrillators to find the best fit – get started today.