
Automated external
defibrillators are life-saving pieces of equipment that allow almost
anyone to quickly and easily save lives. They determine when
defibrillation is appropriate to administer, and prompt users through
every step of the process.
That said, even though
an AED is excellent at determining when it should and should not
administer a shock, there are some situations where an AED shouldn't
be applied to begin with.
When
To Avoid Using An AEDAn AED shouldn't
be used when it could do more harm than good. These situations, while
rare, generally fall into two categories:
What
Can Affect The Accuracy Of An AED?An AED should not
be applied in situations where its analysis may be affected. This can
cause it to fail to administer a shock, or administer one in the
wrong situation. Moving vehicles, for an example, can negatively
impact an AED's accuracy and cause it to fail to recognize when a
shock should or shouldn't be delivered.
A lot of body
hair can interfere with the adhesion of the pads themselves. This
isn't a contraindication; some AED kits may come equipped with razors
to remove some body hair to let the pads adhere effectively. However,
any shaving must be performed extremely quickly-- a shock should be
delivered as soon as possible after a patient begins going into
cardiac arrest in order to give them the greatest chance at survival.
When
Can An AED Be Dangerous?
An
AED delivers a strong electrical shock. This means that it can be
dangerous to patients or bystanders in any situation where a spark or
live wire would be dangerous. Do not use an AED on a patient that is
in water, even if it's only a puddle, get patients out of the rain,
remove any wet clothing, and dry their chests before applying the
adhesive pads. It's also important not to use an AED around
combustible materials. Solvents, flowing oxygen, or fuels like
gasoline can ignite or explode.
That said, it's not
dangerous to use an AED on patients that are lying on metal surfaces,
provided bystanders stay clear of the patient's body, the pads don't
touch metal, and all of the right safety precautions are taken.
Similarly, it's safe to use on people with pacemakers or jewelry.
Medication patches, like those used to treat chronic pain, won't
cause problems for a defibrillator. However, they can still pose a
hazard to other people who come in contact with the patient's skin
and should be removed.
When someone goes into cardiac arrest,
one of the most important factors that determines their survival is
time. The sooner they get help, the less time there is for their
heart, brain, and other organs to suffer damage from hypoxia. In all
but a few situations, an AED can be safely used on someone suffering
from cardiac arrest with minimal delay.



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