What is a defibrillator and how does it work?

Question: What is a defibrillator and how does it work?

Answer :A defibrillator is an electrical device that provides a shock to the heart when there is a life-threatening arrhythmia present. The arrhythmia that we worry about is called ventricular fibrillation. This is a very rapid erratic beating of the heart.

2010 CPR Guidelines American Heart Association

After a review of the available research published over a 5 year period, the American Heart Association released its 2010 CPR Guidelines. As expected, the focus for CPR is on good quality chest compressions. Here are the differences between the 2005 and the 2010 CPR Guidelines:
A-B-C is for babies; now it’s C-A-B!

It used to be follow your ABC’s: airway, breathing and chest compressions. Now, Compressions come first, only then do you focus on Airway and Breathing. The only exception to the rule will be newborn babies, but everyone else — whether it’s infant CPR, child CPR or adult CPR — will get chest compressions before you worry about the airway.

2005 CPR Guidelines American Heart Association

In 2005, the American Heart Association changed the guidelines for CPR for lay rescuers – commonly called Heartsaver CPR. Here is a list of major changes as outlined in the Winter 2005-2006 issue of Currents in Emergency Cardiovascular Care, AHA’s newsletter.

When performing Child & Infant CPR alone, complete about two minutes (five cycles) before dialing 911. (old guidelines said to complete one minute)

• Lay rescuers no longer perform a jaw thrust to open the victim’s airway – only use head-tilt, chin-lift.
• Check unresponsive adults for normal breathing; do not take more than ten seconds.
• Check unresponsive infants or children for presence or absence of breathing for fewer than ten seconds.