Defibrillators Save Lives. You Need to Know How to Use One.

One minute they’re talking to you, and the next they’re on the ground, not breathing and without a pulse. Within 3 minutes, they will have brain damage. Within 10 minutes, they will be dead. Your actions in the next few minutes could save their life. A sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can strike anyone, at any time – and often with no warning signs. In fact, around 30,000 Australians die annually from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). That’s more than the road toll each year.

Every minute counts

An SCA is a failure of the heart to pump effectively, resulting in a sudden loss of blood flow. The only known treatment for SCA is a shock from an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), administered as soon as possible. Emergency services often take a minimum of 10 minutes to arrive at the scene, and since the chance of survival reduces by around 10% with each minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, there is simply no time to wait. Survival rates double when bystanders step in to assist rather than wait for emergency responders. With these odds, an AED can mean the difference between life and death.

Would you know how to use a defibrillator in an emergency?

If you think the answer is no, you’re unfortunately not alone. Surveys have found that 63% of people are not confident that they know how to operate an AED. Don’t be a bystander. Defibrillators are designed to be easy to use, even in high-stress situations. Training does help you to be more prepared, but the device actually tells you what to do via voice commands.

What to do if someone is having a sudden cardiac arrest:

Know the signs of a cardiac arrest

When a person is having an SCA, the signs are immediate and drastic. In the moments leading up to having an SCA, they may experience fainting or dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and a racing heart. Women commonly report shortness of breath, while men experience chest pain. Some people experience no warning signs at all. Then, when they have an SCA, they will suddenly collapse. No pulse. No breathing.

Know where your AED is located

While every person should take first aid training if it is available to them, you don’t need first aid training to operate an AED. You just need to know where to locate the AED in your workplace and have the courage to take action. According to St John’s Ambulance, 1 in 3 (34%) of all Australians don’t know where to find an AED. And of that number, 71% would rely on someone else to know how to use it. AED’s, like fire extinguishers, are easy to use and should be kept in a visible place so they can be grabbed in an emergency. It is essential that your AED is easy to locate in case of an emergency.

Follow the First Aid Action Plan of DRSABCD

If you witness someone having a suspected sudden cardiac arrest, you need to follow a First Aid Action Plan. A First Aid Action Plan is critical in assessing whether a patient has any life-threatening conditions that need an immediate response. Every workplace should have staff members trained in First Aid response, and you should all know who this person is. If it isn’t you, consider volunteering to get First Aid Training yourself so that you will be able to help save someone’s life in an emergency.

This emergency response plan follows 7 steps:

• Danger – Look for any danger in the immediate vicinity.
• Response – Is this person conscious? Do they respond when you speak to them?
• Send for Help – Yell loudly for help. Have someone call triple zero (000). They must answer the operator’s questions and stay on the line until help arrives.
• Airway – Open their mouth and check inside for any foreign material. Make sure that the airway is clear. If the airway is obstructed, deliver back blows or manually clear using your fingers.
• Breathing – Check if they are breathing. Watch for chest movements. Lift their chin and tilt the head gently back, put your ear near their mouth and nose and monitor for breathing.
• CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) – If they are unconscious and not breathing, lie them flat on their back and commence CPR. Ask someone to locate an AED and bring it to you. Don’t stop. Continue CPR until they respond, or an ambulance arrives. Most people tire out after about 2 minutes, so yell for backup while you are doing compressions.
• Defibrillator – If you have access to an AED and the person is unconscious and not breathing, you should always start CPR and apply the AED. The AED will automatically assess the heart rhythm and administer an electrical shock to restore the heartbeat to its normal rhythm. Don’t worry – an AED will only administer a shock when the heart requires it. It is simply not possible to shock someone whose heart doesn’t need it, even by accident. When the AED arrives, apply the pads to the person’s chest. Then simply follow instructions from the device. Once you have shocked the heart, continue CPR until breathing resumes or the ambulance arrives at the scene. If the person responds to defibrillation, turn them onto their side and tilt their head to keep their airway open.