What are Automated Defibrillators?
Defibrillators are electronic devices that help a person’s heart work correctly for a short period of time. Defibrillators are very simple looking. They consist of a control box that houses the generator and battery. It also has two paddles that are attached to the generator with chords. When a person has a heart attack, their heart starts beating erratically. This erratic behavior is called ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation prevents blood from moving from the heart to the brain and other organs. If the heart isn’t stabilized, damage can be caused to these organs or, in the worst-case scenario, the person can die. Automated defibrillators get a person’s heart back on track through a series of electric shocks. In fact, defibrillation, manual or automated, is the only way to combat ventricular fibrillation. The shocks free up the blockage and allow blood to once again start flowing to necessary organs. This also pulls the heart rate back down to a safe, normal rhythm.
