Defibrillators save lives.

Leigh Munro Presentation.
Due to the number of Defibs  in the community, Victoria has the highest success rate for their use in Australia. To be effective, as many people as possible need to know how to use them.
Modern machines are fully automated and talk the user through the process as outlined below.
D Check for dangers
R Check patient's response to verbal or touch prompts
A Check that airway is not blocked
B Is the patient breathing- listen, use hand or ear to feel breath, watch for chest rising and falling
C- Circulation check patient's skin colour, temperature
 S Send for help. Once on the line with 000, DO NOT HANG UP. The operator will talk you through the process, educating and providing reassurance.

If the patient is breathing but not responsive, the patient is unconscious and should be placed on their side in the recovery position until help arrives.
If the patient is not breathing and unresponsive, and there is only one person present other than the patient, apply AED immediately.
If no AED device available, commence compressions at the rate of 30 chest compressions to 2 breaths. (Breaths optional, but more important in children and drowning cases)
Use a mask to deliver breaths.
First responder can use compressions only (no breaths) while waiting  for AED to arrive.
Then apply pads to the dry skin on chest, right shoulder and left side of chest below the ribs . Avoid contact with any metal (jewellery etc). Ensure that the wires to AED are not under the pad.
Stand clear before delivery of shock as per instructions from device.
Recommence CPR.
The AED will analyse rhythms  and advise when to shock.
For the best chance of recovery, it is important to act quickly. Every minute of delay is associated with a 10% loss of cardiac function.
If the patient has an implanted pacemaker (usually under skin upper right side of chest) do not apply the pad over pacemaker. Use back/shoulder instead.
There is no need to shock a patient who is breathing and has a pulse. Keep them warm and safe until help arrives.
If doing CPR, use the rhythm of BeeGees Stayin Alive to deliver compressions.
Special Patients
Infants 0-12 months- don't use defib
Children 1-8 years, use child pads if available.
The device delivers a 200 joule shock to adults, 50 joule to children.
CPR is exhausting to deliver. Ambulance officers swap operators in and out every 2 minutes.
AED units cost $1200- $1400 each. Many grey nomads carry a unit on their journeys to remote places. Battery needs replacement every 5 years, pads :annual replacement recommended, but don't discard the old pads.
Good Sam (Samaritan) app will advise trained operators within 5km of the home address if help needed. It is integrated with emergency dispatch (000)service. If registered volunteer accepts the call they are directed to the nearest AED .
Take home message: Apply AED within 3 minutes of cardiac arrest if possible. Don't stand by if action is required.