Defibrillators & AED Quick Help Guide

AED means Automated External Defibrillators.

Automated External Defibrillators are a type of defibrillator. Other types of defibrillators are semi-manual defibrillators and manual defibrillators. AEDs are easy to use and require just a few hours of training to learn.

AEDs are a key component to treat the majority of victims suffering from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA kills about 1,000 people a day, and half of them have no previously reported symptoms of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. More people die from sudden cardiac arrest than from breast cancer, prostate cancer, AIDS, house fires, handguns and traffic accidents combined.

When a person is suffering with sudden cardiac arrest, approximately 80% of the time there is a chaotic electrical malfunction of the heart causing it to quiver erratically. An electrical shock from the AED can stop this fibrillation to get the heart back on track. A defibrillator is recognized as the only and best treatment for the most common causes of cardiac arrest.

AEDs save lives!

There are no legislated requirements for AEDs for businesses but it is a great device to have especially in restaurants, gyms, doctor's offices, dentist offices, and many more.

Another reason businesses are adding on-site AEDs is that many workplaces have an aging population. These leads to cardiac arrest becoming more prevalent in the work place.

Training for AEDs is very short, a few hours, compared to a manual defibrillator. But an AED operator must know how to recognize the signs of a sudden cardiac arrest, when to activate the EMS system, and how to do CPR. It's also important for operators to receive formal training on the AED model they will use so that they become familiar with the device and are able to successfully operate it in an emergency. Automated External Defibrillator training also teaches the operator how to avoid potentially hazardous situations.

From F.A.S.T Rescue we sell AEDs from many different manufacturers. Some of our products are:

• Defibtech Lifeline Automated External Defibrillator
• Defibtech AED Training Unit
• ZOLL AED Plus