Why have an AED?

Life expectancy

Following a Cardiac Arrest the chance of survival decreases by 23% per minute. It is therefore very important medical treatment starts as soon as possible. The UK Resuscitation Council suggests an AED should be available wherever medical treatment is more than 5 minutes away. In practical terms this means the whole of the UK but more critical in a rural village such as Chatton.

About Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is an electrical malfunction of the heart (most commonly Ventricular Fibrillation or VF) in which the heart stops pumping blood to the body and brain due to an abnormal heart rhythm known as an arrhythmia. As the victim consecutively loses pulse, consciousness and ability to breathe, the victim is termed 'clinically dead' and can only be physically brought back to life in a very small window of time using a defibrillator or AED.

Survival: 5% with CPR alone; 50% with defibrillation

The rate of survival of an SCA is dependent upon time. The quicker the intervention, the better the outcome. Brain death starts after 3 minutes so urgent action is needed, particularly in rural areas where it can take several minutes to get a competently trained person to the scene. PADs can be at the scene in a matter of minutes.

About Defibrillators or AEDs

A defibrillator delivers an electrical current through the chest which aims to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm allowing it to pump again.

Rapid response using automated technology can significantly improve the quality of life of a survivor, as the longer the brain is starved of oxygen, the more damage that can occur.

An AED is a portable defibrillator especially designed for people with no medical background. When applied to the victim, voice commands and screen messages will guide the user step-by-step through the process and its intelligent technology will only allow it to shock a 'shockable' heart rhythm.

AED technology opens a window for the public to take on a key role to support emergency services who would otherwise be hindered by the time it takes to reach the victim. It is argued that AEDs should be as broadly deployed as fire extinguishers and first aid kits.