Defib is short for defibrillator. A briefcase-sized box that can deliver an electrical shock to someone whose heart has stopped pumping blood around their body, tells Nurse Julie Rich, Heart Start Shropshire Co-ordinator.
They are compact, portable and very effective, with two sticky electrode pads that stick to the casualty’s bare chest and have clearly marked buttons that are designed to be used by the lay person. This clever little machine guides the operator through the process by clear verbal instruction and visual prompts. Defibs are safe and will not allow a shock to be given unless the heart rhythm requires it.
A sudden cardic arrest can can affect anyone - from the middle aged and young, to elite sportsmen and women and those with underlying heart disease. It is a leading cause of premature death, but with immediate treatment many lives can be saved. When the electrical rhythm that controls the heart is replaced by a more chaotic rhythm (called ventricul fibrillation) the quicker it is treated with a defib, to correct the rhythm, the greater the level of success for the patient.
Many sudden cardiac arrest casualties can be saved if someone nearby recognises what has happened. Ambulances may not always get there in time due to availability, traffic conjestion, incorrect information and hoax calls. If you come across someone not breathing or breathing erratically, it’s important to call 999 or 112, start CPR (cardio pulmonary resuccitation) particularly chest compressions within three to four minutes of the arrest starting.
If a public access defib (PAD for short) is close by, continue to deliver chest compressions and send someone to fetch it. Every minute that passes before the use of a defib reduces the casualty’s chance of survival by around 10%, so time is of the essence.
By giving CPR to the patient, you will be getting much needed oxygenated blood to the heart and brain making, it more likely a shock from a defib will work. Hands-only CPR is a skill that involves pressing hard and fast on someone’s chest. If given just after someone goes into cardiac arrest it can buy invaluable time before using a defib and can more than double their chance of survival.
These days Defibs can be found in many public places, such as sports halls, train stations, stores, village halls and more public access defibs (PAD) are appearing with the help of National Lottery funding, British Heart Foundation, local ambulance authorities and other charities.
No exam is required to operate a defib, but with a small amount of training, you will gain confidence and understanding of its use, maintenance and learn not to be scared of it.
How can I learn to save a life? I am often contacted and told “I didn’t know what to do” or “I thought I would be sued if I touched the casualty.” I would recommend CPR training, the use of chest compressions and rescue breathing to everyone. With this valuable training, you could just save a life. Heartstart is a free scheme that helps train new lifesavers. It takes just a couple of hours and is a British Heart Foundation (BHF) initiative, which shows you what to do in a life-threatening emergency.
It’s hands-on, and teaches you the simple skills that save lives. Anyone interested in learning more about the scheme can contact me on 01952 820625 or visit the BHF website at www.bhf.org.uk
