BMET Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Automated External Defibrillator
Powerheart aed defibrillator


12 Months / 15 Minutes
0 Months / 0 Minutes
12 Months / 60 Minutes
24 Months / 30 Minutes
0 Months / 120 Minutes
High


Batteries

About[]

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient, and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm. AEDs are designed to be simple to use for the layman, and the use of AEDs is taught in many first aid, first responder and basic life support (BLS) level CPR classes.

Life Support[]

Are defibrillators considered life support equipment? Answer: "The following definition appears in the glossary of the JCAHO 2009 Comprehensive Accreditation Manual:

Life Support Equipment: Any device used for the purpose of sustaining life and whose failure to perform its primary function, when used according to manufacturer’s instructions and clinical protocol, will lead to patient death in the absence of immediate intervention (examples include ventilators, heart-lung bypass machines).

Defibrillation is a response to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Defibrillation consists of delivering a therapeutic dose of electricity to the affected heart with a defibrillator. The dose of electricity restores a normal heart rhythm, allowing the heart to continue to function in the patient. Therefore, the Joint Commission considers defibrillators life support equipment.

As it is required that organizations maintain an inventory of all medical equipment or selected medical equipment categorized by physical risk associated with use (including all life support equipment), defibrillators must be included in an organization's medical equipment inventory.

Maintenance activities then must be identified for equipment on the inventory. A maintenance strategy for defibrillators could include a range of activities from a visual inspection of the single-use AED (automatic external defibrillator) to the daily testing of a defibrillator in clinical use settings based on organization policy."[1]

Manufacturers[]

  • Heart Start
  • Medtronic PhysioControl
  • Philips
  • Cardiac Science
  • Zoll Medical

Models[]

  • LP500 - Medtronic PhysioControl
  • FR2+ - Philips
  • PowerHeart - Cardiac Science

Second Source Parts[]

Second Source Service[]

References[]

  1. Joint Commission. "Defibrillators - Life Support or Non-life Support Equipment." 15 June 2009. http://www.jointcommission.org/mobile/standards_information/jcfaqdetails.aspx?StandardsFAQId=52&StandardsFAQChapterId=64

Video[]

AED_Training_Video_--Update

AED Training Video --Update

Advertisement