Addressing SCA with AEDs

• AEDs are devices used to restore a heart in defib to a normal rhythm.
• SCA is when a victim’s heart stops beating and then beats irregularly.
• When a SCA event occurs, emergency medical help must be summoned, and the AED used.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Modern AEDs:

• Are light, small, and portable.
• Provide an electric shock to restore a heart in defib to a normal rhythm.
• Are automated and will typically talk the rescuer through the necessary procedures and automatically monitor a victim’s heart rhythm.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)

• The heart normally has a rhythmic beat. A sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) victim’s heart stops beating and then beats irregularly, like a quiver.
• This is called ventricular fibrillation (VF). VF is not to be confused with a heart attack where blood flows to the heart muscle is blocked. With VF, the blood stops circulating adequately, and the victim loses consciousness.
• Breathing stops and the person will eventually die.
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) alone does not replace defibrillation in a SCA incident. CPR merely gives a person precious time until emergency medical help arrives.
• Without access to an AED, very few people have survived a SCA after 10 minutes.

What is SCA?

The heart normally has a rhythmic beat. When someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the victim’s heart stops beating normally, or beats erratically. Blood stops circulating adequately, and the victim loses consciousness. Breathing stops and the person will die if they do not receive prompt medical attention.

Signs and symptoms of SCA

Symptoms of SCA are very sudden and dramatic. Typically, the victim will collapse, and show no sign of a pulse. At this point, emergency medical help must be summoned, and the AED used.

Many AEDs will prompt the operator through the necessary steps to use it. The AED then checks for the presence of a shockable SCA event. The AED either prompts the operator to apply a shock to the victim’s heart or will prompt to continue CPR. If the AED does not sense a shockable event, no shock is given.

Other AEDs function automatically, applying a shock to the victim after sounding a warning alarm.