Portable Defibrillators

I am senior officer on passenger ships and sometimes I get to do something amazing,something that I will remember for the rest of my life.Let me tell you about it.
A year ago my ship was alongside in a European seaport. In the middle of lunch an emergency notice is heard throughout the ship indicating a serious medical emergency is unfolding. As part of the medical response team I race down three decks and along to a passenger berth. The ships doctor beats me two it by seconds and on my arrival I find a 70 year old man collapsed on the floor with a heart attack.

As per our training I start giving the guy cpr whilst the doctor performs mouth to mouth. No pulse...We are loosing him. A few seconds later the rest of the medical team arrive carrying the crash bag. Opening up the bag I pass a oxygen mask and bellows to the doctor and find a new item of equipment which we had drilled with a few days earlier. An AED or portable defibrillators as it is known. Basically a device designed to restart and maintain a failing heart.

The equipment had been delivered two weeks previously and we had all undergone training. Challenge was as is more often than not the case in a complete emergency part of the mind goes void.

I pulled the box open and quickly followed the information. A reassuring voice from the box started guiding me through its use. Where to place pads, the status of the patient. When to carry out compressions, when to stand clear.

This PC controlled device administered an stimulating shock to the patient and restarted his heart.It then monitored his heart and advised us of its condition.

The ships doctor continued working on the patient as we carried him to the ships hospital. Meanwhile the ships purser had contacted the regional authorities and a few minutes later we heard the reassuring wail of an ambulances sirens as it made its way through the port towards us.

The paramedics boarded the ship, assessed the patient then conveyed him to the local hospital where he eventually made a complete recovery.

Talking to the ships doctor I asked did the device save his life? Hard to say
but what we were doing before we used the AED was'nt saving him. He was dying.
The AED kick started his heart and kept it stable.

A cruise ship is a very similar situation to a school, college, office or shop.
A big group of people working together of various ages and different fitness
levels.

Staff may be taught to administer first aid and you may well want to rely on the
professionals to arrive and save someone BUT what if by making use of an AED you
could dramatically improve their chances.

are reasonable and easy to use. Could you save a life with
one? Could you chance your venture folding as a result of not having one and
being sued ?
From a economic and moral stand point these tools are now available. Acquire one
and be trained how to use it.Could you face the same situation as me? A man
dying in front of you of a heart attack? Would you know what to do? Honestly?
Ease of mind and no worries about getting sued an
Automatic
Portable Defibrillator takes care of the situation and guides you how to do
the right thing.

Portable defibrillators are becoming more and more available in public places like airports, airplanes, office buildings and shopping malls. , a cardiologist at ut southwestern medical center, compares the devices to fire extinguishers: they're placed in strategic locations, and either trained professionals or laypeople can use them in an emergency. These devices analyze heart rhythms, then deliver a shock to return the heart to normal rhythm if appropriate.

Portable defibrillators are now available for the home or work place to help ensure that when someone you know suffers a heart attack, they will be able to receive immediate care, which could alter the outcome and perhaps save their life. Experts agree that maintaining a healthy lifestyle incorporating healthy eating choices and regular exercise remains the best way to avoid suffering a heart attack. Try to avoid saturated fats, try to incorporate fish and seafood into your diet, and implement regular exercise - at least 30 minutes per day. In the event of a heart attack, remember that the first response if vital to ensuring the best possible outcome for the victim. Having a portable defibrillator in the home or office helps to ensure that a work collegue or loved one receives the best possible first response available. A heart attack is perhaps one of the most severe and distressing medical emergencies to face. Being prepared can alleviate the distress and anxiety suffered by both the victim and the career. In the event of a heart attack remember to: check for breath and a pulse, check for consciousness, if the patient is conscious make them as comfortable as possible, and seek urgent medical assistance. The use of a portable defibrillator may in some instances offer the best possible first response for victims and those offering assistance.

More advice at
http://www.Forgettherword.Com/portable-defibrillator/

Portable defibrillators are available in an increasing number of public places, including airports, shopping malls, casinos, health clubs, and community and senior citizen centers. Once you arrive in the emergency room, the medical staff will work to stabilize your condition and treat possible heart attack, heart failure or electrolyte imbalances. After you recover, your doctor will discuss with you or your family what additional tests you may need to determine the cause of the cardiac arrest. Your doctor will also discuss preventive treatment options with you, to reduce your risk of another cardiac arrest.

More advice at
http://www.Forgettherword.Com/portable-defibrillator/

Portable defibrillators are indeed remarkably cheap -- between $2,000 and $4,000 each -- considering the power they have to help a civilian save the life of someone suffering from cardiac arrest. While heart attacks occur when blood vessels are blocked, cardiac arrest is much more deadly and strikes when the heart's electrical system suffers a short circuit. , medical director of the cardiopulmonary research science and technology institute in dallas. "there is electrical activity, but it's erratic instead of coordinated. A jolt from a defibrillator reboots the heart by stopping its electrical activity for an instant, forcing it to restart, eichhorn said. Everyone nearby has to get out of the way to avoid being zapped, and the body of the patient will dramatically spasm when the voltage hits. Only about one in 20 patients survives cardiac arrest, and a victim must be shocked within about 10 minutes of an attack to have any chance of living.