A defibrillator is used to deliver an electric shock to the heart when someone is in cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest means the heart has stopped beating properly or quivers too fast to pump blood effectively. Some main points about when and how defibrillators are used:
- Defibrillators are used to try to restore a normal heart rhythm when the heart has stopped beating properly or developed a dangerously fast, irregular rhythm like ventricular fibrillation.
- Defibrillation is often part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR involves chest compressions to manually pump blood, combined with rescue breaths. A defibrillator can help restart the heart's normal pumping rhythm.
- Defibrillators are applied to the bare chest. Pads are placed on the upper right and lower left of the chest. The device analyzes the heart's rhythm and delivers a shock if indicated.
- Defibrillation is most effective within 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest. The sooner it can be administered, the better the chances of survival.
- Both automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and manual defibrillators are used. AEDs provide voice prompts to guide the user.
- Defibrillation is only one part of the "chain of survival" in cardiac arrest. Other links include immediate CPR, rapid emergency response, and prompt advanced care.
Defibrillators deliver timed electric shocks to try to restore organized heart rhythms during cardiac arrest events when the heart stops pumping effectively. Speed in delivering this intervention is critical.
