Common Problems and Common Fixes for AED Issues

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is made specifically for critical emergency situations. You may have seen this in movies, or in real life. 

Here’s a situation for you: In the airport, an elderly man or woman may experience a heart attack. Luckily, a medical practitioner is around to fetch an AED and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to save his or her life. 

With that said, it may be useful for anybody to know how important an AED is and why nurses and doctors use them. By the same token, people should also be knowledgeable about common AED mistakes and the common fixes or solutions for these issues.

For Storing and Safekeeping of AEDs

Your AED must always be readily available and within reach. For emergency situations, the retrieval time of an AED should be less than 3 minutes (or 90 seconds in each direction or way).

Every second counts. Thus, you should not keep items on top of an AED or have anything covering it. This may complicate retrieval. AEDs should be located in high-traffic areas. Even better, you might want to consider wall-mounting your defibrillator.

Following AED Guidelines

Adrenaline levels will rise if a patient collapses while you are setting up an AED. While you may want to jump up and help, you must maintain your cool and follow the directions carefully.

Fortunately, AEDs come with both audio and visual instructions, making them usable by almost anyone who doesn’t suffer from disabilities. Remember that AEDs also come with basic, step-by-step guidelines, so it is critical for one to listen intently.

Simply put, you don't have to be an AED specialist as anybody can just follow the instructions.

Choosing Between CPR or AED 

Because either technique is sensitive to time and execution, it could be very difficult to know when to use an AED vs CPR.

High-quality CPR is essential in addition to defibrillation. With this, the first cardiac exam is crucial. Only high-quality CPR can result in a shockable heart rhythm if no shock is necessary. If the first diagnosis requires a shock, the heart must get blood in order to restructure and resume its regular rhythm. Only efficient CPR can restore a troubled heart's regular rhythm.

AED Pad Placement

If the pads are not properly positioned, the sufferer will not receive a shock from the AED. As technology progresses, this error becomes easier to avoid. Perhaps wrong placement may also further injure the sufferer. Thus, this must be avoided at all costs.

For higher success rates, it may be worth investing in an AED with precise technology. This means looking for a more modern AED that allows for precise positioning and accurate CPR chest targeting.

Care Tips for AED Upkeep

Like any gadget we have today, AEDs may also malfunction or break and need to be replaced or repaired. They can also be serviced on a regular basis. 

For replacement instructions or battery replacements, you may visit the manufacturer's website.

AED maintenance should be included in a monthly assessment of first aid. After all, it is hard to know when you will require an AED or CPR.

Conclusion

You must understand by now that AEDs are incredible for healthcare today. They could save lives, but only if they are used properly. Simply keep these common problems and common fixes in mind once you acquire an AED for your family’s needs.

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