The holidays are over, your tree is packed away, and lights are stowed. Did you give or receive a gift this year that stood out? The internet was overflowing with gift ideas. One unlikely item that kept surfacing and the ad is still popping up daily on my feed is for an A.E.D. The acronym stands for Automated External Defibrillator.
What citizen at large would ever think to buy a technical, medical device designed to restart a failing heart? Thirty-five years ago, ambulance attendants were revelling at being deputized to offer a shock from one of these miracle gadgets. Today, paramedics provide a broad range of care unimaginable a couple of decades back whenever and wherever they encounter a person in distress.
In that same period, C.P.R. and A.E.D.s, treatment resources once reserved for physicians, have become commonplace. You can find the devices mounted to walls in public places, municipal locations, office buildings and more.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (C.P.R.) courses now include an introduction and training using an A.E.D. as an essential skill. In some locations, the course is offered to students within their school setting.
A friend recently reached out asking about an A.E.D. for a church. The question returned me to my early days in E.M.S., interrupting my certification process to become an E.M.S. ancestor. As a supervisor, I often received calls from the public after a heart-stopping incident. Public defibrillator hosts wanted the replacement pads that stick to a victim’s chest to deliver the lifesaving shock. I discovered a big gap between having a public access defibrillator and keeping it in service for the next emergency.
Marketing the device is the most streamlined portion of the process. Providing a comprehensive service beyond the technology escapes some suppliers. When callers identified their dilemma, I would usually ask for the source of the A.E.D., followed by: Did you look at the device or wall cabinet for contact info for a product support telephone number? Shocking as it is, callers often returned with (In a frustrated, sometimes sarcastic tone), “I called the number. It’s Saturday afternoon; the voicemail said someone would return my call during business hours.” For readers unfamiliar with me, an emergency is unlike a pizza: “30 minutes or it’s free”.
Providing a public access defibrillator must never end with having the unit mounted in a conspicuous place. Any consideration to offer the lifesaving service should be all-encompassing. This statement is not meant to be a scare tactic marooning us in the 80’s. The process can be implemented with a minimum of research. Call the experts.
Paramedics and local Emergency Medical Service providers are very visible online. Often referred to as a Public Access Defibrillator program P.A.D.), the term should lead you to a full-service solution. In some instances, private suppliers offer similar support. There are a few essential components.
C.P.R. The most critical initial step. Training and annual recertification by professionals experienced in the process lend credibility to learning the skill. The course includes instructions on calling emergency services and using a defibrillator.
Compatibility. It is much simpler if the defibrillator you have at your location is in the same family as the more advanced unit paramedics arrive with. When the connectors are interchangeable, no time is lost changing over the sticky pads you have applied to your victim's chest. When the pads are identical, paramedics can switch devices and may leave their defib pads behind to replace yours.
Supplies and service, a supply of replacement pads, and regularly scheduled checks of the unit's power source and function are essential. Competent providers will assist you before the next emergency, not Monday morning, offering a temporary unit if your A.E.D. cannot return to service immediately. Some private suppliers also provide immediate support for customers. Ask all the difficult questions. If you contact your paramedic service, they will explain the most efficient way to aid victims locally.
As a bonified catastrophist, I can tell you there is good reason to enlist the protection provided by C.P.R. training and an A.E.D. Think of the effort and resources you have invested in your backyard pool or a cottage next to a lake. Now imagine the added value proposition of taking your household defibrillator to the cottage, doubling your protection when faced with the increased vulnerability posed by water activities or remote locations. Having children or someone with medical problems in your residence or who visits regularly is another good reason to consider the program.
I am pleased that a Public Access Defibrillation P.A.D. program serves London and Middlesex County. Middlesex-London Paramedic Service is a leader in successful outcomes of cardiac arrest. Watch for their annual celebration of life, honouring survivors.