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Help for victims of SCA
October 1st 2007 The Lifeline AED (automatic
external defibrillator) from
Martek is designed to
enable 'lay' responders with
no medical training to give
immediate care to a victim
of SCA (sudden cardiac
arrest).
If a victim receives
defibrillation within 3min,
their chances of survival are
said to be 70%. Every
minute that the heart is not
beating lowers the odds of
survival by 7%. After 10min,
the chances of survival are
negligible. Martek says that
CPR can buy a little time,
but ultimately SCA requires a
shock to restore a normal
heart rhythm.
With AEDs located in
workplaces, life saving care
can be delivered almost
immediately and the
company says that studies in
the USA have shown survival
rates in places such as
airports and shopping malls
increased from less than 5%
to more than 70%.
A computer inside the
Lifeline AED analyses the
patient's heart rhythm and
determines if a shock is
required. If this is the case,
the AED uses voice
instructions to guide the
user through saving the
person's life. It is not
possible to administer a
shock if the unit determines
that no shock is needed. More articles from Martek Medical Ltd: |
