A defib – also known as a defibrillator, AED, or, to use its full Sunday title, an Automated External Defibrillator.
Almost everyone has heard of them; most of us have seen one. As defibs become relatively affordable, they have appeared in shops, businesses, educational settings, residential homes and communities across the country. The more we have, the more lives that can potentially be saved.
What a lot of people don’t realise, is that a defib requires some regular maintenance to keep it in full working order, and so, the question we’re asking today is;
When did you last check your defibrillator?
A defibrillator is an amazing piece of kit to have. One of the main causes of a cardiac arrest is a VF (ventricular fibrillation) arrest, where the heart develops an irregular rhythm and, in effect, starts to quiver.
The only treatment for this is a controlled shock to the heart, to attempt to restart a normal rhythm, and, if administered within 3 - 5 minutes, this shock can improve survival rates considerably, by as much as between 50% - 70% (www.resus.org.uk).
So, there’s no disputing that, having invested financially in a defibrillator, it’s definitely worth spending time keeping it in tip-top shape.
But how do you do it?
It's Easy!
Follow Help First Aid Training’s easy tips to keep the defibrillator in your setting in full working order and ready to save a life.
- Have a designated person responsible for checking your defibrillator. A couple of minutes every week is all it takes.
- Make sure that the defibrillator is in an easily accessible place, not locked, and that everyone knows where it is. Every Single Person in your setting.
- Some defibs are sold with an AED Prep Kit but if your defibrillator doesn’t have one, you can easily make your own. Having a pack ready and alongside your defib, is essential, to ensure that you use the defibrillator to its maximum effectiveness. Your AED Prep Kit should contain scissors, a razor, kitchen roll or wipes, gloves and a face mask. This ensures that, in an emergency, you can remove any clothing, body hair and sweat from the casualty as quickly as possible and stay safe.
- Be sure to replace any items used from your AED Prep Kit.
- Make sure that your defib is set up and ready to go – our trainers regularly go out to settings to deliver defibrillator training and find that the defib is still in the packaging that it was delivered in. In an emergency situation, this could literally mean the difference between life and death. Your defib needs to have the battery plugged in, the pads attached and the AED Prep Kit ready to go.
- Check the pads regularly – they have an expiry date and tend to lose their stickiness over time. Ensure that the pads are replaced after every use.
- Check the battery weekly – the battery depletes over time and will issue a warning when the battery is low. If the battery needs replacing, most models of defib will have a visible indicator, which will change from green to red.
- If you are replacing your battery, be sure to open it and wait until the defib starts to issue audible instructions, so that the new battery can connect to the pack.
If you would like some advice around buying a defibrillator for your setting, or about your current defibrillator, get in touch with us; info@helpfirstaidtraining.co.uk, we’ll be happy to help you.
Defibrillators are relatively self-explanatory and straightforward to use but, if you were thrust into an emergency situation, with no warning, how would you react?
At Help First Aid Training, we strongly believe that forewarned is forearmed and that there’s no substitute for preparation and practical, hands-on training. Our Defibrillator Competent User training offers bags of time for everyone to have as much practical use of the defib as is needed, alongside lots of practical tips and advice. Find out more here; https://helpfirstaidtraining.co.uk/courses/defibrillator-competent-user
It’s important because it could save a life.
What’s more, we’re happy to deliver this training to any workplace in Darlington, Durham, or across the North East, minimising disruption to your working day!
Visit https://helpfirstaidtraining.co.uk/ Email us for more information; info@helpfirstaidtraining.co.uk or, call the Help! line on 01388 417303.