IF YOU FIND AN AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO USE IT?

Dr. Hoang Van Cuong | Trainer at First Aid, First Safe Project

WELL-BEING SERVICES JOINT STOCK COMPANY

Do you know that only 9% of cardiac arrest victims survive. However, if CPR is performed, this number can rise to 30%. And if CPR is performed with the help from an AED, 67% of the victims can survive. Therefore, the importance of the AED is undeniable. However, make sure you know how to use the AED! Let us review this knowledge in the article below.

1. Operations performed on an AED?

If you met a victim of circulatory arrest, what would you do? Are you thinking about immediately performing CPR on the victim? But could you stay calm enough to carry out all the steps accurately? In this case, an AED would be your optimal supporter.

There are many AED models from different brands, but usage is almost the same. Below are specific steps when operating an AED:

• Step 1: Starting the machine (this can be done by pulling the handle or pressing the starting button)
• Step 2: Following the instructions through signals and sound of the machine. Usually, the electrode pads are attached to the victim's chest, but you need to expose the chest before attachign the pads (shave hair on the chest, for example)
• Step 3: The machine analyzing the victim. There are 2 possibilities that could happen:

• The AED saying the victim needs an electric shock: The first aider will press the electric shock button on the machine and the electric current will immediately be released through the victim's body to defibrillate, helping the victim's heart to beat normally again.
• The AED saying the victim does not need an electric shock: The AED will instruct the first responder to perform CPR, which are chest compressions and suffocation for the victim. A special feature when you use the AED machine in combination with CPR is that the machine will give you instructions about the force and frequency of chest compressions.

All these instructions will help the first responders to act as calmly and accurately as possible.

2. Procedure when combining CPR with AED

Always keep in mind that when you saw a cardiac arrest victim, CPR and calling for help must be done at the same time because every minute that passes can reduce the victim’s chance of survival by 7% to 10%. Below is the procedure of CPR performed with the help from the AED:

• Firstly, using the AED to analyze the victim and give him/her the electric shock if necessary
• Secondly, performing CPR on the victim for 2 minutes following instructions from the AED
• Repeating the procedure until medical support comes