Kare Bears Health & Wellness offers CPR/AED and basic first aid classes.
Dee-Dee Patrick, MS, RN Director, Kare Bears’ Health & Wellness
This article first appeared in the PebbleCreek Post in July last year. Due to the tremendous response to our January CPR/AED and basic first aid class, and all the publicity about AEDs related to the cardiac event suffered by Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills, I thought it might be worthwhile reprinting this.
What is an AED?
AED stands for automated external defibrillator. It is a safe and easy-to-use device that delivers a therapeutic electric shock to the heart as treatment for a victim in sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). AEDs are mobile and often found in cabinets mounted on the walls of several of our buildings, much like a fire extinguisher. There are 18 AEDs in PebbleCreek. Their locations can be found on the Kare Bears website at karebears.org/aed-defibrilators.
Why do we use AEDs?
During SCA the heart stops suddenly and in 90% of cases the heart goes into a fatal rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation (often referred to as VF or V-fib). The only treatment to correct ventricular fibrillation is to defibrillate the heart by applying an electric shock to it. AEDs can be used on a victim of any age by people with no medical training. The unit has a diagram showing the user where to apply the gel pads and audible prompts to assist including when to push the shock button.
Of course, it will make you more comfortable if you get hands-on practice in the use of these devices. AED training is now routine in CPR and first aid certification classes and CPR renewal classes.
Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time. People of all ages—from infants, to teens, to older adults—can experience sudden cardiac arrest without warning. This means a cardiac arrest emergency could happen to you or someone nearby while you’re out and about in PebbleCreek. Whether exercising at the fitness center, playing sports, dining in a clubhouse restaurant, or just gathering socially with friends.
AED facts and statistics
* AEDs are easy to use.
* AED usage within the first three minutes of SCA can increase survival rates over 80%.
* 383,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually in the U.S.
* 4 out of 5 cardiac arrests (88%) occur at home, so it’s likely that if you know CPR and have access to an AED, you may save the life of a loved one.
* Less than 8% of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital will survive.
* Ventricular fibrillation is present in almost 90% of adult cardiac arrest; the only way to stop VF is with a defibrillator.
* The sooner an AED is used, the more likely it will work. A SCA victim loses 7% to 10% chance at survival for every minute after SCA that an AED is not used.