There is little warning of cardiac arrest and it is crucial that a bystander acts swiftly when there is somebody suffering from the condition.

A common cause of cardiac arrest is ventricular fibrillation where the blood supply to the brain and vital organs become compromised. When these vital organs don’t receive a sufficient amount of blood, they can shut down or fail. Brain damage or death may result when the blood flow is not restored. There are many manufacturer brands for automated external defibrillators. One such product is the HeartSine defibrillator which is one of the smallest and lightest devices cleared for use by the FDA. They are excellent for use in schools, offices, etc.

There is less maintenance required as well. In the event of ventricular fibrillation, an electric shock can be applied to the chest in order to bring the heart rhythm back to normal. The survival rate of ventricular fibrillation depends entirely on how quickly defibrillation is carried out.

Automated external defibrillators are able to monitor the heart rhythm of a person and automatically deliver an electric shock. There is not much effort to be done on the part of the operator. These devices are very easy to use. The training programmes for learning how to use this will last for about four hours. But you can operate this in an emergency even without having undergone formal training.

However, it is recommended that you apply for training as this is something that may become very useful in an emergency. Depending on the state, the requirements of the operator will vary. Some will allow any individual who knows about the defibrillator can use it while others will restrict the usage to those who have undergone formal training only. But public access to automated defibrillators has become more common in many states.

All you need to know is to press the “on” button which is something that is irrelevant to a brand. Once you have switched the defibrillator on, you will be able to hear automated instructions that will guide you through the procedure. You are then instructed to place adhesive electrode pads on the bare chest of the person who has collapsed due to cardiac arrest. Some devices will require to connect the pads with the device.

Once this is done, the ECG rhythm of the person is automatically analyzed to determine whether a shock is needed. You should take care that nobody is touching the person while the machine is operating so as to produce an accurate ECG reading. If the machine decides that a shock is required, it will charge automatically and instruct you to press the button to administer an electric shock. You can then resume CPR after the shock has been delivered.