How to use a defibrillator is a question that is becoming more common with the increased presence and visibility of AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) across the UK and the world.
Modern AEDs are designed to be simple enough that anyone can pick one up and follow the instructions to use effectively, as the nature of sudden cardiac arrest means that the person responding might not have any training. The steps of responding to an emergency and how to use a defibrillator can be seen below
Danger
Upon encountering a potential cardiac arrest, the first step taken should be to assess the area for further dangers to yourself or the casualty. Only attempt to help the casualty if doing so does not put yourself at risk of harm.
Response
Checking for a response from the casualty is vital before attempting to give any treatment, you should grab the casualty’s shoulders and shake them gently while loudly asking “Are you okay?”
If there’s no response, they may be unconscious, and immediate action is required.
Airway
The next step should be to clear the casualty’s airway to check they are breathing and ensure that their airway is clear. Just minutes without oxygen can result in permanent brain damage and death.
To check for breathing you should lower your ear down to their mouth and look across their chest, if you cannot feel breath on the side of your face or see their chest rise and fall then assume they are not breathing.
Call 999 and send for AED
After establishing that the casualty is unresponsive and not breathing, you should immediately call 999 and send someone close to you for an AED. The 999 call handler will be able to direct you to your nearest one if you are unaware.
Defib Finder can be used to find the nearest defibrillator to any postcode in the UK, but this is not to be sued in an emergency.
Start CPR
Starting Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as soon as possible is vital if the casualty isn’t breathing and their heart isn’t beating, as oxygenated blood will not be being pumped to their vital organs. CPR acts as a manual pump for the heart, pushing oxygenated blood around the body.
The steps to perform CPR are as follows:
- Lay the casualty on their back on a firm, flat surface
- Check for breathing by placing your ear next to their mouth and looking down their chest
- Place interlocked hands in the middle of the chest and press down hard by around 5cm, twice a second
- Do this 30 times
- Tilt head back and blow into the mouth while holding their nose
- Perform 30 chest compressions for every 2 rescue breaths until someone else takes over or AED arrives
Using the AED
- Once the AED arrives, switch it open or open the lid, depending on the model. As soon as the device has been switched on, it will begin to give vocal instruction on how to carry out the rescue – some AEDs will even have a screen with visual aids.
- The first step of how to use a defibrillator will be to remove all clothing and jewellery from the casualty’s chest and attach the pads, which have an adhesive gel on one side.
- Once the pads are attached, the AED will begin to analyse the casualty’s heart rhythm and determine whether or not it is a shockable rhythm, Whilst it is analysing, the device will advise you to stop CPR.
- Once the device has finished analysing it will come to the conclusion of either ‘Shock Required’ or ‘No Shock Required, continue CPR’. If a shock is required, the AED will advise for no one to touch the casualty.
- If using a semi-automatic defibrillator, the shock button will begin flashing, and deliver the shock once pressed by the responder. If using a fully-automatic defibrillator, the device will count down from 3 then deliver the shock automatically.
Handing over to the emergency services
One shock may not be sufficient to restore a normal heart rhythm, if this is the case, continue CPR and the device will re-analyse the rhythm and deliver further shocks if needed.
Once the emergency services arrive, give them as much information as possible and they will take over the rescue.
CPR and Defibrillator training
To ensure confidence in knowledge of how to use a defibrillator, a training course is recommended for all workplaces in the UK. Defib Warehouse offers several accredited courses that can be carried out across the UK at a venue of your choosing.
These include a 4 hour CPR and AED course, as well as a Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work, which covers most common medical emergencies in the workplace.
