I was recently asked “Who is qualified to perform routine inspections of automated external defibrillators (AEDs)?” My short answer is everyone and anyone but as with most things, there is room for an expanded discussion and some clarification. Bear in mind that there are validated reports that indicate that many AEDs may not be in …
Who Is Qualified To Perform Inspections On AEDs? Read More »
I remember bringing my newborn son home from the hospital. Every noise he made, every grimace, move-you name it-caught my attention. I thought he was a piece of fragile china and I panicked that any wrong breath or movement could be detrimental. Now, at five months old, he races across the living room in his …
When lives are at stake, high-quality emergency care training can make a difference! Cardiac arrest is an equal opportunity killer and can strike seemingly healthy individuals of any age, race, ethnicity, or gender at any time in any location, often without warning. Cardiac arrest is the third leading cause of death in the United States, …
How Do I Select a Provider of High-Quality Emergency Care Training? Read More »
Sudden cardiac arrest can occur in victims of all ages at any moment anywhere in the world. Cardiac arrest is defined as the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have been diagnosed with heart disease (About, n.d). This condition is often times fatal if swift and precise actions …
The short answer is no, not necessarily. The question “Do I need CPR training in order to use an automated external defibrillator?” is one that comes up frequently. The short answer is no but let’s take a closer look at this subject. It is entirely possible that because of a variety of reasons, many see …
Do I need training to use an automated external defibrillator? Read More »
Of the more than 350,000 annual deaths that occur as a result of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) each year, you might assume that only older adults need to be concerned about this deadly condition. Think again. SCA is the leading cause of death in young athletes. Most often, the death occurs during athletic training or competition. …
One play no team can afford to lose. Are you ready? Read More »
Along with the holidays comes a rise in heart attacks sometimes referred to as a “Christmas Coronary” or a “Hanukkah Heart Attack.” Heart attacks are “plumbing” issues in the heart in which one or more blood vessels, called coronary arteries, become blocked, typically by a clot, and it results in a loss of vital blood …
The finale of our three part series discusses the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in a cardiac arrest and deployment of AED units in publicly accessible settings. Please be sure to check out Part I: Recognition of Cardiac Arrest and Getting Help and Part II: Bystander Initiated CPR. What’s an AED anyways? An …
Part I of our series discussed the recognition of cardiac arrest and getting help. We’ll now discuss bystander initiated CPR and the obstacles that prevent CPR from being started immediately. This will lead us into Part III – Public Access to Defibrillation which will discuss use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and deployment strategies. …
The first part of our series focuses on the challenges faced during the recognition of cardiac arrest and the actions necessary to get immediate help. Cardiac Arrest in Disguise Both CPR training videos and Hollywood consistently make cardiac arrest appear the same way – a person lying on the ground, usually face up, unconscious and …
Part I: Recognition of Cardiac Arrest and Getting Help Read More »
