BLS CPR & First Aid Classes

Automated External Defibrillators, also called AED’s are rapidly becoming recognized as the standard of care in the management of victims of SCA (sudden cardiac arrest) outside of a hospital environment. Defibrillation; a long time effective tool for paramedics, emergency departments and hospital intensive care units, is now available to the general public by way of the AED. The AED is a small computerized device that delivers an electrical shock to a victim that is in full cardiac arrest and presents with abnormal heart rhythms. The shock stops the heart for an instant and allows it to reset.

Accredited AED Training Programs include:

American Heart Association

American Red Cross

American Safety and Health Institute

When a person suffers a cardiac arrest, has no breathing and no pulse, this does not mean that the heart has completely stopped. In an arrest, it is very common that the heart continues to function, but abnormally. Consequently, because of abnormal rhythms, the heart is unable to pump blood effectively. The most common rhythm presenting in cardiac arrest victims is Ventricular Fibrillation.

When the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, the body is unable to acquire the needed oxygen to sustain life. Defibrillation is like rebooting the computer and is the method used for getting the heart back to a normal rhythm. Long used by EMS personnel and emergency departments, defibrillation is actually more effective in the hands of the community then it is anywhere else. The reason is because defibrillation is most effective within 3- 5 minutes. Many times it takes longer then 5 minutes for EMS to arrive decrease the chance for successful defibrillation. Placing defibrillation in the hand of the trained and certified public increases the probability or a "successful" defibrillation, resulting in a "successful" resuscitation.

An additional encouraging fact about the AED, is that it will not shock anything other then a shockable rhythm. In other words....the only people it will shock are people that need it, making it an extremely effective tool for the public to have. Every minute that defibrillation is delayed decreases the victims chance of survival by about 10%. ZOLL has developed and AED that actually evaluates the depth and rate of the rescuers chest compressions, and will correct the rescuer if their chest compressions are not optimal. No other AED will assist the rescuer with CPR like the ZOLL, but all AED's will shock a victim in cardiac arrest if they cardiac rhythm is ventricular fibrillation.

Training for the AED simply consists of taking a Basic Life Support (CPR/AED) class. Some people may feel that they don't need AED training or that it really doesn't apply to their workplace. However, emergencies are always unexpected and the more people that are trained, the better chance cardiac arrest victims will have.