There is a medical equipment which is quite known for its use in shows and video games called a defibrillator. The defibrillator is known as a large piece of equipment that is wheeled into a room of a patient undergoing cardiac arrest. It is then used to shock the patient to restore the regular rhythm of a patient’s heartbeat.
Cardiac arrest is the illness which claims lives of almost 400,000 lives every year and rising. This is one of the most serious causes of death, which can sometimes go undetected, until it is too late. There are a lot of ways in which cardiac arrest causes death, but the most common is the lack of oxygen in the brain. When cardiac arrest happens, there is a very small leeway before things turn for the worse. Only four minutes without oxygen supply to the brain can cause the victim to enter a vegetative state, and further lack of first aid in under 10 minutes can cause irreversible death. A calm mind is important in dealing with the possibility of someone experiencing cardiac arrest near you. By reacting immediately and providing necessary revival techniques while keeping the time requirement in mind, 4 minutes will be enough time to support the victim, until life support arrives. Every second is critical, so act while thinking fast.
Some of the most plausible treatments that a bystander can do for those suffering from sudden cardiac arrest within 10 minutes is CPR and using an AED. CPR is the shortened form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This is a famous maneuver that is done by someone to a victim through the use of chest compressions, and optional mouth resuscitation. Chest compressions are done so that the heart is squeezed and blood continues to flow. Mouth resuscitation supplies the lungs with oxygen that the blood can carry around.
The AED, or the automatic external defibrillator, is the smaller and more portable version of the famous defibrillator. This equipment is mostly seen in movies and TV shows as a plot device that can help people be revived easily. This is not true however, as AED has an average success rate in revival. This is only meant to tide over the person until advanced life support arrives. These actions taken quickly can eventually save the life of a sudden cardiac arrest victim.
This are the two quickest treatments that can be done by bystanders that have not been trained. For those interested in training for administering CPR or using an AED, there are a lot of training centers that will gladly accommodate. Being trained not only increases the chances of success in reviving a sudden cardiac arrest victim, it is also a great badge to signify love for humanity and your dedication to fulfilling your civic duty of helping any and all humans that need helping. Being ready for emergency situations can just save the life of someone, so training for it is a necessary good. Any and all actions taken to help someone must be inherently good and humane.
