Things You Need To Do After Using AED Defibrillator

It is a terrifying experience to watch someone go through sudden cardiac arrest and a few of us want to do about it. But the difference between life and death can be swift action and knowledge of how to use a device such as an automatic external defibrillator (AED), so it is so vital to be prepared. More than 350,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur in public places or at home, only less than 10% percent of the victims survive. Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that occurs when the heart stops beating completely due to a sudden electrical failure, resulting in an immediate, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness.

What is AED And How To Use It?

AED defibrillator is intended for the general public to use and most devices feature audible voice prompts to direct the user through the process. The general steps for using an AED are as follows:

1. Switch on the AED and follow any instructions for audio and/or visuals.

2. Open the shirt of a person and dry his or her bare chest. If the individual is wearing some prescription patches, before wiping the person's chest, you should use a gloved (if possible) hand to remove the patches.

3. Connect the pads to the AED and insert the connector in (if necessary).

4. Make sure no one is touching the individual, including you. Tell them all to "stand clear!"

5. Push the "analyze" button and allow the AED to analyze the heart rhythm of the individual.

6. If the AED advises that you administer a shock to the individual, make sure that no one approaches the individual, including you and tell everyone to "stand clear!" Click the "shock" button until it is clear.

7. Start CPR after the shock is delivered. If no shock is recommended, begin CPR straight away. Perform 2 minutes of CPR (about 5 cycles) and proceed to obey the instructions of the AEDs. Discontinue CPR and track breathing for any changes in condition until you find noticeable signs of life.

What Happens After You Use AED?

When someone turns on an AED, whether or not it has been used to a victim, it is deemed to have been used and it is important to follow all post-use protocols and procedures.

1. Complete The Response - EMS staff will attach their own defibrillator to the patient on arrival and assume CPR duties. They will remove the electrode pads or may not. Essentially, the pads you have added must be disposed of and any residual packaging or waste must be cleaned up by someone. Here are some explanations you are the ems should have taken:

• Whether or not you witnessed the arrest.

• How long the victim was down.

• And how many shocks you delivered.

• What is your relationship with the patient?

• Where does the accident occur

• In what place do you get the AED

2. Put The AED Back In Service - The most important thing is to get your AED back in service after it is used from a defibrillator cabinet, you need to replace the electrode pads each time your AED is connected to someone. If you need to change the battery or charge pack or not depends on the make and model of your AED and follow the instructions of your manufacturer. The device can need to be washed or disinfected in some situations. In addition, medical equipment such as latex masks, razors, or barrier systems that were used in the reaction must be replenished.

3. AED Event Information - This is a digital recording that for later analysis, can be moved to a machine. The monitoring contains the cardiac beat of the patient and the time for vital incidents such as the transmission of shocks.

4. Written Documentation - The cardiac arrest incident needs to be recorded in writing by someone on the emergency management team. This usually includes a post-event form called a medical incident or injury notification form to be completed. As soon as possible after the incident, finish this in writing. The type includes information about the incident, such as:

• Time of the accident

• Name of the person completing the report

• Date, time location of the incident

• Whether or not the cardiac arrest was witnessed

• Who started CPR and when

• When the AED arrives

• Who operated the AED?

• Name of responding EMS agency

5. Medical Oversight and Quality Improvement - Before an AED is put back into operation, the electronic incident data can need to be extracted and sent to the medical director by someone on the medical staff. To recommend enhancements or modifications in procedures or policies, the medical director may want to review case details. Doctors at the receiving facility will want to review the data to better assess the cause of cardiac arrest. A medical director might suggest changes to improve effectiveness in areas such as training, AED location, procedures, and responder roles. 

6. Debriefing - He or she may issue a report to the AED program manager after the medical director has seen the event results. To learn from the experience and strengthen the internal response processes of the company, a summary meeting can be held. All main players, including emergency response team members, should be included in the conference. The staff will strive to describe actions that have gone well and others where there is a chance for change.  In addition to the technical dimensions of cardiac arrest, respondents or others will require considerable assistance to ensure that their personal and mental wellbeing does not have a negative effect on their patients.

AED post-use requirements 

List of clear administrative procedures that need to be performed after the AED has been used. Here are some post-use procedures:

1. A Full Report of an incident of sudden cardiac arrest no more than 24 hours after the event.

2. Give all documentation to the specific medical officer.

3. The medical officer will ensure the records are submitted to the medical director as soon as possible and not more than one week from the date of the incident.

4. Emergency incident debriefing should be conducted if required by the medical supervisor.

5. That the ECG tracing contained in the AED is accessed and sent on to the admitting hospital, if the event was successful.

In Conclusion

Installing new electrode pads and changing the battery is the first thing to do after using the AED. You will also need to replace disposable products used during the reaction phase. Next, full written documents needed by the AED policy of your company. 

Provide the medical director of your company with digital AED case data if appropriate. To recommend any changes to the AED program in your organization, the person in charge of medical supervision may need to review the details reported by the AED. Finally decide if a follow-up debriefing is required, including a crucial debriefing of incident tension.