{"id":1611,"date":"2021-10-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cos.p10.sol1.net\/uncategorized\/defibrillators-save-lives-you-need-to-know-how-to-use-one\/"},"modified":"2022-10-23T22:19:21","modified_gmt":"2022-10-23T22:19:21","slug":"defibrillators-save-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/cospedia\/defibrillators-save-lives","title":{"rendered":"Defibrillators Save Lives. You Need to Know How to Use One."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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One minute they\u2019re talking to you, and the next they\u2019re 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\u2019s more than the road toll each year.<\/p>\n

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Every minute counts<\/b><\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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Would you know how to use a defibrillator in an emergency?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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If you think the answer is no, you\u2019re unfortunately not alone. Surveys have found that 63% of people are not confident that they know how to operate an AED. Don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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What to do if someone is having a sudden cardiac arrest:<\/h2>\n

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Know the signs of a cardiac arrest<\/strong><\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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Know where your AED is located<\/strong><\/p>\n

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While every person should take first aid training if it is available to them, you don\u2019t 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\u2019s Ambulance, 1 in 3 (34%) of all Australians don\u2019t know where to find an AED. And of that number, 71% would rely on someone else to know how to use it. AED\u2019s, 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.<\/p>\n

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Follow the First Aid Action Plan of DRSABCD<\/strong><\/p>\n

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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\u2019t you, consider volunteering to get First Aid Training yourself so that you will be able to help save someone\u2019s life in an emergency.<\/p>\n

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This emergency response plan follows 7 steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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