In instances
when you come across someone who has been (close to) drowning
, they may need the attention of an AED. In drowning emergencies, the patient will no longer be breathing, will be unconscious, and you will not be able to find a pulse.
When should you not use an AED?
Do not use an AED
when there is water present or the victim is wet
. Electricity will take the path of least resistance, so if there is water on the chest then the shock will travel through the water instead of the heart muscle. No one should touch the victim during delivery of the electrical shock by an AED.
Where can you not use an AED?
- The Person is Suffering From a Heart Attack. …
- The AED Is Faulty or Has Expired Parts. …
- The Victim Has a DNR. …
- The Victim Is Wet or Lying in Water. …
- The Victim Has a Medication Patch or Pacemaker. …
- The Victim Has a Hairy Chest.
Why should you not use an AED on a patient with a pacemaker?
Most likely, if the person with the pacemaker has suffered a cardiac arrest, their pacemaker is already not working. The concerns are that the
Automatic External Defibrillator will interfere with the pacemaker
and that the heart will not be able to resume its normal function.
In what situation would you use an AED?
AEDs are used to
revive someone from sudden cardiac arrest
. This usually occurs when a disruption in the heart’s electrical activity causes a dangerously fast heartbeat (ventricular tachycardia) or a fast and irregular heartbeat (ventricular fibrillation).
Can you use an AED on a pregnant lady?
CPR in a pregnant woman should be done in cycles of 30 compressions and two breaths. It is also
safe to use
an automated external defibrillator, or AED, if one is available. Bystanders should not be afraid they might hurt the unborn baby, Jeejeebhoy said.
Can you use an AED without training?
Although
formal training in the use of an AED is not required
, AED and CPR certifications are recommended to help you increase your comfort and level of confidence. However, AEDs are intended for use by the general public — with or without specialized training.
What are the rules for using an AED?
- 1Turn on the AED and follow the visual and/or audio prompts.
- 2 Open the person’s shirt and wipe his or her bare chest dry. …
- 3 Attach the AED pads, and plug in the connector (if necessary).
- 4Make sure no one is, including you, is touching the person.
Can someone get in trouble for using AED?
Any individual who is trained to use an AED and who uses one in good faith in an
emergency will not be liable for any civil damages
. A person who provides CPR and AED training to a person who renders emergency care is not liable for any civil damages.
Can you use an AED on a conscious person?
A defibrillator
should be applied whenever CPR is performed
. If the casualty is breathing, regardless of whether they are responsive (conscious) or not responsive (unconscious), a defibrillator is not required.
Can u do CPR on someone with a pacemaker?
Yes, this is safe
. Most pacemakers and ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrillators) are implanted in the upper left side of the chest. During CPR, chest compressions are done in the centre of the chest and should not affect a pacemaker or ICD that has been in place for a while.
What is the life expectancy of a person with a defibrillator?
Living with a Pacemaker or Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator ICD. Pacemakers and ICDs generally last
5 to 7 years or longer
, depending on usage and the type of device. In most cases, you can lead a normal life with an ICD.
Can you place an AED on a patient with a pulse?
Note:
AEDs are NOT for use on trauma patients
, children under the age of 1, or victims that HAVE a pulse. Call 911. … If the victim is breathing, you know that he has pulse. If the victim is not breathing, begin rescue breathing and chest compressions as described in How To Perform CPR.
How do you use an AED on a woman?
Apply the AED electrode pads as indicated on
the packaging
. On most women, the breasts will fall to the side once clothing is removed. They will no longer be “in the way” of performing CPR and hand placement would be the same as on a man – two fingers above the bottom of the sternum, between the nipples.
Why is AED needed?
An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is
used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest
. It’s a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.
