Re: [TCML] Heart start Philips defibrillator

["Jonathan Peakall" <jpeakall@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I teach AED (automated external defibrillator) classes. One thing to be 
clear on is that defibs DO NOT start a stopped heart. In fact, what they do 
is STOP a heart that is in V-Fib. V-fib is a state where the heart is 
essentially quivering. Your heart has a central electrical node which sets 
the rhythm for the rest of the many nodes in your heart. You can think of it 
as  the conductor in an orchestra. If the conductor gets out of whack, so do 
the rest of the nodes. The know they should be firing and since they aren't 
being told when to fire, they fire on their own. What the defib does is STOP 
the heart, with the hope that the conductor gets it's act together and 
starts a viable rhythm.

You also don't need to worry about any AED that a lay person can buy 
shocking you. The new ones can detect if someone is touching the patient and 
won't deliver the shock even if you press the button. In fact that is one of 
the reasons that they can now be sold to the genral public. While all AEDs 
can walk you through the steps of using it, and most also can give 
instructions for CPR, it is still a very good idea to get training.

I'm lucky, due to being in the Fire Dept. I have one in my car. :)

Jonathan
www.madlabs.info
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "bartb" <bartb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 5:03 PM
Subject: Re: [TCML] Heart start Philips defibrillator


> Jim, good question. My wife works exclusively with heart patients. She's
> been doing this a long time and is one of the best in her field.
> Although she's always telling me about the various rhythm's (and how
> some staff need to go back to school), I just can't keep up with her
> anymore (so I just nod my head in agreement). In our coiler case, we are
> concerned with a heart stopped due to an electrical shock. In a case
> where the heart is beating but in a poor rhythm, then "no CPR and no
> defibrillator" (wait for the ambulance). But if the heart is stopped,
> there is no breathing, and there is no response to CPR, then I would
> certainly say "use the defibrillator".
>
> I think a defibrillator would be a great addition to any household (just
> in case). But it would be interesting if there are any doctors on the
> list that deal with heart patients and are up to speed on the latest
> data about these home versions. There are of course the situation where
> someone could use the defibrillator while the heart is still beating
> (this would be bad). I think if we ever get a defibrillator in this
> household, I will send the family to be trained (the American Heart
> Association and the Red Cross offer courses). The training would also
> teach them how not to shock themselves with the device.
>
> Take care,
> Bart
>
> Jim Mora wrote:
> > Hello Group,
> >
> > Has anyone on the list invested in a household defibrillator? Philips 
> > seems
> > easy to use though it is not cheap, around $1200 US. It seems to me that
> > with what we work with and for general household protection, this may be 
> > a
> > worthwhile investment.
> >
> > As I understand it, a serious shock to the heart either stops it or puts 
> > it
> > in ventricular fibrillation, both hot a good after five minutes which is
> > generally how long emergency responders take.
> >
> > Appealing to our Doctors out there, is this a worthwhile investment and 
> > can
> > the Philps possibly restart the heart that is in ventricular fib from a
> > serious shock?
> >
> > Hopefully that never happens!
> >
> > Safety First!
> > Jim Mora
> >
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