Heart Defibrillators Help Save Lives
A defibrillator is a medical device used to stop the heart in
hope that heart will start again with rhythmic contraptions. It
consists of a central unit and a set of two electrodes. The
central unit provides a source of power and control. The two
electrodes are placed directly on or in the body of patient. The
electrodes give electric shocks to body.
This technique is used to treat ventricular tachycardia. The
electric shock is used to induce the heart to return rhythmic
contractions using its own natural pacemaker cells. This
instrument forms a part of Active Cardiac Life Support.
Heart Defibrillation was invented in 1899 by Prevost and
Batelli. They were two Italian physiologists who pointed out the
benefits of electric shocks in a state of cardiac shock. They
had experimentally proved that electric shocks could convert
ventricular fibrillation to sinus rhythms in dogs. Beck and
company first applied this technique to humans and saved a life
in 1947.
Once Portable Defibrillation was used, in 1960, in ambulances,
more and more human lives were saved. This development was
pioneered by Prof. Frank Pantridge in Belfast.
An accident in Australia, brought defibrillators in large
numbers in the ambulances. Media Mogul Kerry Pecker had a heart
attack and was saved by an ambulance carrying a heart
defibrillator. After this incident, he donated a huge sum on
money to equip ambulances with this instrument. The device is
called Packer Whacker in Australia now and all ambulances in New
South Wales carry this instrument.
Heart Defibrillation can only be used by a trained person as it
is dangerous for both patient and the administrator. The
defibrillator might cause skin burns or a shock might be felt by
the administrator if he/she touches patient's body at wrong
time.
If you have patient at home you can buy the heart defibrillator
and then get trained. This will be extremely helpful when any
emergency situation arises. If you wish to purchase a unit for
home use, there are lots of sites that sell these units online,
as well. When you buy the units consider the age of patient as
the pad size will depend on it. For a child you will need to use
smaller pad while an adult use a large pad.
Although some practical training is essential, the machine comes
with pre recorded instruction as well. The step by step process
will guide you in case there are any difficulties.
The machine can itself judge whether the patient needs it or
not. As soon as a pad is placed, it will judge the heart beat,
and see if shock is needed or not. If it is not needed, no shock
will be administered so there is nothing to be afraid of while
using it on the patient.
When a cardiac arrest happens, a small delay might be dangerous.
Keeping a fibrillater machine might give life to the patient.