The Importance of an AED in the Work Place

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a killer condition caused by the heart stopping and leading to oxygen deprivation to vital organs including the brain. The statistics of people experiencing SCA and the mortality rates are enough to draw the attention of one and all. In most cases of SCA, the heart stops beating or is beating with an irregular rhythm and is unable to pump blood.

A person suffering from SCA needs immediate medical attention and the quickest possible emergency revival procedures. The emergency revival procedures that a person who has SCA needs is emergency resuscitation by providing CPR which will help the heart to begin beating again and clear the airways. He will also need emergency correction of the rhythm of the heart by providing a direct shock to the heart to correct the electrical activity in the heart.

This shock is provided with the use of a defibrillator. A defibrillator has historically been a medical device that needs expert training and qualified personnel to be able to operate. So, in most cases, until emergency rescue personnel could arrive at the scene, the availability of a defibrillator to shock the heart to overcome fibrillation was not possible.

However, the scenario has now changed. With the advent of technology, we now have an automated external defibrillator (AED) that is a true life saver in many cases.

The principal difference between a defibrillator in a medical setting and an AED is that the latter can be operated by even a novice who has no experience in handling such a device by just following some step-by-step instructions. Also, as the AED is fully automated, it recognizes the necessity to provide defibrillation shock to the heart which in some cases might not be necessary and prove fatal. So, a person using an AED need not fear about the use of an AED unnecessarily.

As these AED devices have become far simple to use and have proved to be life savers in many cases, such devices are now finding its way in many public places like malls, stations, airports, public events and even in schools and offices. An AED in an office or workplace is definitely a much needed emergency safety device like a fire extinguisher and such.

As many offices are now located in high rises, the average time taken for emergency medical personnel to reach the victim of SCA has been on the rise. As the fatality and brain damage increases with the elapse of time, every second saved provides higher percent of recovery. For this reason, now many offices, especially those in high rise buildings are opting to have an AED device to help their employees in case of an emergency.

There are many different models of AED devices available for use in a public place or even for home use. Some of the popular AED devices that one can find on the market include Cardiac Science PowerHeart G3 Plus, Defibtech LifeLine, HeartSine Samaritan PAD, Philips FRx, Philips OnSite, Physio-Control Lifepak CR Plus, Zoll AED Plus, etc.

While the basic function of any AED device that is on the market is the same and is to provide a shock to the heart to enable defibrillation and restore normal electrical activity and stimulus to the heart, the AED devices that are available in the market come with many added features that sets them unique to the others. Also, there are some differences between the various models that make changes to their maintenance.

As AED devices are likely to be left in the open, one feature that is to be looked at while purchasing an AED is to look at its Ingress Protection (IP) rating. The ingress protection rating is a two digit figure where in the first number is the protection that is offered against dust and other objects entering into the device and the second number is the protection against the entry of water. The first number is provided values from 0-6 with 0 containing least protection and 6 providing the highest amount of protection while the second number ranges from 0-8. For example, the IP rating of Zoll AED Plus and LifePak CR Plus is 55 where the first 5 is indicative of adequate protection against dust entry to an extent where the functioning of the device is not affected and the second 5 is prevention of entry of water in the form of drip, spray, splash and jet. The IP rating of Defibtech Lifeline is 54 and that of HeartSine Samaritan PAD is 56.

As the IP ratings will play a role in the kind of maintenance required for the device, so will features like electrode and battery life. The electrode pad usually has a life anywhere between 2-4 years depending on the manufacturer. While Cardiac Science G3 plus, Philips HeartStart FRx and Phillips Onsite claim an electrode life of about 2 years, AED devices like Zoll AED Plus have an electrode pad life of about 5 years and HeartSine Samaritan about 3 years.

Battery life and the type of batteries used also are important in comparing the maintenance required for different AEDs. While Zoll AED Plus and Defibtech Lifeline claim a battery life of about 5 years, most AED devices including Cardiac Science G3 Plus, Philips Onsite, and Philips HeartStart FRx have a battery life of about 4 years.

Manufacturer’s warranty is also an important feature to consider while purchasing an AED device. Most manufacturers provide a warranty between 5-7 years. Choosing an AED with adequate years of manufacturer’s warranty will provide relief, although issues rarely arise.

If the AED device is likely to be moved from place to place, the size and weight of the device will be of prominence. If the AED device is more likely to be placed in only one place, this feature will not be of utmost importance while choosing an AED device. While the HeartSine Samaritan AED device is one of the lightest at 2.4 lbs, the Zoll AED Plus and Cardiac Science G3 Plus weigh about 6.7 lbs.

Some of the other features you can look at while picking up an AED device can also include whether or not it include features like CPR help, text and voice prompts for instructions, additional equipment needed for training, pediatric use, etc.

Although the basic concept of any AED device is to use it in reversing fibrillation of the heart, there are many added factors that need to be considered which will play a role in the maintenance and handling of the device. If you have an understanding of these various features, considering what is important will help decide which AED device is best for you.