| The automated external defibrillator is, amazingly, | | | | basically kicking it back into a regular, synchronous |
| still a device that is not commonly known about. I | | | | beating activity.A defibrillator, until the mid-80s, |
| say amazingly, because the ailment it treats is | | | | would only have been found in medical facilities |
| one of the most insidious killers in the US today. | | | | and medical emergency vehicles. They tended to |
| That is, sudden cardiac arrest.Heart disease | | | | be cumbersome, technical to operate, and could |
| comes in many forms, some brought on by bad | | | | be a danger to the operator if not used |
| living habits - such as eating too much fried or | | | | correctly.Enter the automated external |
| fatty food, smoking, excessive alcohol | | | | defibrillatorThe newest versions of these |
| consumption, etc. Other forms of heart disease | | | | machines are small (about the size of a baseball |
| are congenital, meaning they are present at birth. | | | | mitt), so easy to operate a child could use one, |
| And still others, to this day are still unresolved as | | | | and safe for the operator. Great technological |
| to their cause.There is however, one ailment of | | | | strides indeed have been made in recent years, |
| the heart, above all others in its impact on life. | | | | resulting in external automated defibrillators that |
| That ailment, is sudden cardiac arrest. It claims | | | | can be used in the home, in the office, and in |
| over 250,000 American lives a year, and given | | | | public gathering places such as stadiums, churches, |
| the current eating habits in the US, looks only to | | | | sports arenas, etc.For people who have known |
| get worse. I say that because our eating habits | | | | heart conditions, these are the best thing to come |
| now tend to produce or accelerate heart | | | | along since the invention of the wheel. They can |
| disease.Although sudden cardiac arrest can claim | | | | allow them mobility with safety, and assurance in |
| the life of anyone, young or old, sick or seemingly | | | | the knowledge that if cardiac arrest strikes, there |
| well, it is much more prevalent among people who | | | | is a machine at their side that any bystander or |
| already suffer one or more of the heart diseases | | | | family member could use to save their life.As you |
| mentioned above.Sudden cardiac arrest, in its | | | | can probably tell by now, automated external |
| basic definition, is simply the cessation of regular | | | | defibrillators need to be in more homes, offices, |
| heart activity in an individual, suddenly and | | | | and public gathering places than they currently are. |
| unexpectedly. Its triggers can vary -- from | | | | To do this more public awareness is needed |
| sudden, blunt impact to the chest area (as in the | | | | about the automated external defibrillator. They |
| case of a baseball player being hit in the chest by | | | | are actually the greatest insurance policy |
| a baseball traveling at 90 mph), to clogged | | | | someone with heart disease (or even without) |
| arteries, as in the case of heart attack sufferers. | | | | could have against this insidious killer.We can |
| The outcome, however, is about 95% of the | | | | reduce unnecessary deaths from SCA |
| time, unchanging. Death of the victim.This | | | | dramatically if more people have available to them |
| inevitability is due to the speed with which a | | | | an automated external defibrillator, and if more |
| victim dies. It is less time than would normally | | | | public officials are made aware of the need for |
| take a medical crew to arrive at the scene. If the | | | | automated external defibrillators in schools, |
| victim is without a heartbeat for more than | | | | colleges, and universities.If you can see the |
| approximately 4 to 6 minutes, brain and body | | | | urgency and need, why not forward this e-mail to |
| death begin. Between 6 and 10 minutes and you | | | | your congressmen or congresswoman, and your |
| may as well read the last rites.If a defibrillator is | | | | friends and family.It is still true that an ounce of |
| used, survival rates increased dramatically (up to | | | | prevention is worth a pound of cure. Having an |
| around 75%).What is an automated external | | | | automated external defibrillator available for use in |
| defibrillator?The automated external defibrillator is | | | | a cardiac emergency is like having a pound of |
| a machine that is easily portable and able to | | | | prevention and a ton of cure. That might be |
| administer an electrical shock to the heart muscle, | | | | something to strive for. |