AED, CPR can be crucial to saving a life

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  When a person's heart stops beating or it goes into a specific heart rate that cannot sustain life, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and operating an automated external defibrillator becomes crucial.

"Pumping on the chest and getting air into the lungs goes hand in hand with an AED because defibrillation increases the likelihood of making the heart start beating again with a rhythm to survive," said Tech. Sgt. Thompson medical operations NCO in charge with the 819th RED HORSE Squadron.

According to Thompson, an instructor of Basic Life Support, CPR and Heartsaver AED courses, the American Heart Association recommends that an AED be automatically placed on a person in need of CPR. CPR is advised after a person appears to not be breathing after 10 seconds.

Many would assume that in order to properly operate an AED/perform CPR, one would need to be certified, however, that is not the case.

"Anyone can use an AED," Thompson said. "Once you turn it on, it's very self explanatory. It will tell you exactly how to use it and when to use it. The majority of AEDs will also tell you how to perform CPR and will walk you through the steps of it. No one should ever be afraid to use an AED because it can't give an electrical shock to someone who doesn't need a one. As long as you follow the directions, you won't hurt yourself."

Lt. Col. Jennifer Ravenscroft, chief of medical staff with the 341st Medical Operations Squadron reiterates Thompson's insight on the use of AEDs.

"An AED is a lifesaving device," Ravenscroft said. "Once a person's heart starts beating abnormally, there are usually only a couple of minutes before it goes into full arrest and cannot be restarted. If a patient's heart is in a rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation, the only way to get it back to normal is to shock it. CPR may keep the blood flowing to the brain, heart and other vital organs for a few minutes -while the AED is prepared- but it will not cause the heart to resume its regular rhythm. Only an electrical shock will do that. If the heart stays in ventricular fibrillation too long, it will become too damaged for even an electrical shock to restore it to life. Therefore, it is important that an electrical shock is delivered as soon as possible when this happens."

Accidents can happen anywhere-from the work place to the Fitness Center to the Education and Training Center. Because the amount of time a person has to live drops drastically when the heart goes into an abnormal rhythm, operating an AED and performing CPR with confidence is crucial and can potentially save a person's life.