Imperative tech: why we still need public AEDs in 2023

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a heart condition that kills an estimated 22,000 to 33,000 Australians every year. Being one of Australia’s biggest causes of death, only 10% of people survive the condition, making automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) more imperative than ever.

AEDs can potentially return the heart to its normal sinus rhythm once the heart’s rhythm has experienced ventricular fibrillation (VF). Unfortunately, SCA victims only have a few minutes for someone to provide defibrillation, so for the following reasons this technology is still essential and in greater availability in 2023:

• Anyone can use one

One of the most fantastic things about this technology is that you don’t have to be an expert to use one. Yes, once a location can buy defibrillator technology, any individual present at that location can provide defibrillation to someone experiencing SCA. This is because the technology provides simple instructions on how to use and administer the treatment in real time, potentially saving a life before the victim can receive detailed medical treatment!

• They are incredibly portable

These devices are highly compact and lightweight, making them an absolute breeze for individuals of all ages to carry in the event of SCA. This therefore makes them highly accessible and easier-to-use in one of these unfortunate events, thus further lifting the chances of the victim surviving the SCA.

• They will work as needed

The technology won’t simply administer a shock if it is not required to do so. Instead, it only provides a shock after analysing the heart’s rhythm and determining the heart’s rhythm, and it will guide the user all the way, further making it highly accessible technology for who needs it and when.

• They can help return the heart to its proper rhythm

AEDs use an electric shock designed to end the heart’s chaotic rhythm. This can potentially return the heart to its electrical, normal and organised rhythm, something that occurs in order to return the heart to its regular pumping action.

• Typical machines can be used for people above eight years

AEDs can be used on anyone above eight years. But, for kids under eight years, they also come with special paediatric pads that provide a safer treatment for children. You can use adult pads on children if there are none available, however this is definitely not recommended for babies below one year in age.

• They can greatly increase survival chances

In the event of SCA, the victim’s survival chances drop 7-10% a minute without treatment. Therefore, this technology is imperative and in real time, greatly increasing the victim’s chances of survival in this unfortunate situation.

• They are there when a medical professional can’t be

As time is of the most vital essence during SCA, it will always be likely that a medical professional may not be on hand to administer immediate treatment. Therefore, this technology can work as a stand-in before the victim can receive the treatment they need to survive the incident.

• Urgent care is essential

Along with CPR, defibrillation is essential for keeping the victim alive. Survival chances can greatly increase with both CPR and defibrillation, with the combination of both potentially increasing the victim’s survival rate by a massive 50%.

So, with these imperative figures in mind, it’s easy to see why we still need AED technology in public spaces in 2023. They can provide the essential treatment a victim needs before they can receive proper medical treatment and, hopefully, survive this harrowing ordeal.