Are you interested in setting up an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program at your location but still have unanswered questions/concerns when it comes to AEDs? Square One Medical is not only your source for AED distribution, but also a source to have any and all of your questions answered when we talk about AEDs.
Most of us are aware that having an AED onsite of a medical sudden cardiac arrest emergency is crucial to increasing the survival rates of the victim, but yet many places still do not have these lifesaving devices. The question most of us ask is, “why?”. If AEDs have been proven to save lives, why are there still so many places to yet have AEDs implemented?
The answer is simple: The public needs more education on AEDs and sudden cardiac arrest. Some people are not aware that heart disease is the number 1 killer in the United States (above cancer!!) and that 1 person every 90 seconds goes into cardiac arrest. And some people also do not realize that time is of the essence once a person goes down with cardiac arrest and think that they can just hang around and wait for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), when in reality it may already be too late when EMS finally arrives. And of course the biggest concern for most people is that they are intimidated by an AED and are afraid to use it because they think that they will hurt the victim or use it wrong. With a little education and awareness, all of the concerns listed above can be eliminated and we can save more lives!
Here are some common questions and answers when it comes to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs):
WHAT IS SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST (SCA)?
SCA is a condition when an “electrical” problem occurs within the heart which causes the heart rhythm to become chaotic and irregular, and unexpectedly causes the heart to stop beating.
IS SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST (SCA) THE SAME AS A HEART ATTACK?
No, no, and NO. The majority of us refer to a “heart attack” and “sudden cardiac arrest” as synonymous terms when in reality, they are not even close to being interchangeable. The question above explains that sudden cardiac arrest is an “electrical” problem, but when we talk about a heart attack, we are talking about a “plumbing” problem that occurs in the heart/artery and constricts/blocks the flow of blood to the heart. Usually during a heart attack, the victim is conscious, with a pulse, and has a variety of PHYSICAL symptoms such as shooting pain in the left arm, back pain, chest pain, jaw pain, nausea, etc…(symptoms vary between males and females).
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST (SCA)?
Unfortunately, little to no symptoms. A person usually goes into sudden cardiac arrest within seconds (hence “sudden”), and is unconscious, with no pulse. Here is a chart to help you compare “sudden cardiac arrest” versus a “heart attack”:
HOW OFTEN DOES A PERSON GO INTO SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST (SCA)?
SCA strikes over 350,000 people every year
Which is equal to 1,000 people each day
Which is equal to 1 person every 90 seconds
HOW MUCH TIME IS THERE TO HELP SAVE A VICTIM OF SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST (SCA)?
Upon collapse, there is at best a 7-10 minute time-frame to help save a victim of SCA. Every minute that goes by without help, the chances of survival for the victim decreases 10%. If the brain doesn’t receive oxygen (via CPR) by approximately minute “7”, brain damage starts to occur. You want to start CPR and apply an AED as soon as possible to give the victim the best chances of survival and this is why it is not optimal to rely on EMS because you never know if they are out on another call or stuck in traffic — there is no time to waste when it comes to SCA.
HOW DO YOU HELP SOMEBODY IN SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST?
The first thing that you should do when you recognize that somebody is in cardiac arrest call 9-1-1, start CPR, and if there is an AED onsite, tell somebody to get the AED as quickly as possible, bring it to the victim and turn the machine on and follow along with the visual and audio prompts.
WHAT IS CPR?
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation or CPR is a technique used to give chest compressions to a victim in sudden cardiac arrest in order to provide the victim with oxygen and artificial circulation of oxygen within the body to the major organs/brain and back to the heart.
The American Heart Association states that CPR consists of giving 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths to the victim. The compressions should be at least 100 compressions per minute and at least 2 inches in depth. If you have never been through a CPR certification class, it is a good idea to learn the basics of CPR/First-Aid/AED use. Square One Medical has certified instructors through the American Heart Association on staff that can help in your certification process. Call us today for more information!
HOW LONG IS A CPR CERTIFICATION CLASS?
A CPR course is anywhere for 3 – 3 1/2 hours long and the certification is good for 2 years.
What if I am not trained in CPR and am not comfortable with giving mouth-to-mouth? No problem. The American Heart Association is really pushing for “hands-only CPR” for the infrequent, untrained rescuer. If you have never been trained in CPR or do not wish to do mouth-to-mouth breathing, stick to “hands-only CPR”. Hands-Only CPR has been proven to be just effective at saving a life! The American Heart Association’s motto is, “Push Hard and Push Fast”. Watch this 60-second video by the American Heart Association that can help save a life:
SO, WHAT IS AN AED?
An Automated External Defibrillator or AED is a portable electronic device designed to be used by your typical layperson responder during a cardiac arrest rescue before professional medical help arrives. An AED has the capability to detect a shock-able heart rhythm and deliver a shock to a victim of cardiac arrest in order to help reset their heart rhythm.
IS AN AED HARD TO USE AND DO YOU HAVE TO BE TRAINED TO USE IT?
Many people have the misconception that you have to have special training in order to use an AED and that AEDs are complex pieces of equipment to use. As stated above, AEDs are meant for the infrequent rescuer who many had little or no training on an AED. An AED will guide you with visual and audio prompts and does all of the work for you!
However, each state has different laws and regulations when it comes to AED use. In certain states, all personnel with an AED onsite have to be trained on the device in order to use it or even have the device onsite and in other states, the training is left up to individual choice and is not a requirement. Click here to see if your state requires AEDs in specific locations and what the AED training requirements are.
But, please remember that if you have never had training or have never seen an AED before, it is a very smart idea to get training on the AED which comes along with most packages when you purchase an AED unit.
WHAT IF I ACCIDENTALLY SHOCK A PERSON WHO IS NOT IN CARDIAC ARREST?
It is very important to understand that you CANNOT shock a person unless they are in true cardiac arrest. The AED is made to recognize only a shock-able, troubled rhythm and if it does not recognize a shock-able rhythm, the machine will say, “no shock advised”.
What about liability and can I be sued if I use the device and the person doesn’t make it? You, as a good Samaritan, and first responder at a scene of a medical emergency, are protected by a set of laws called “The Good Samaritan Laws”. These laws state that as long as you are providing care with good intent, you cannot be held liable. You have to remember that if you do not provide any sort of help (whether it be CPR or AED use) the chance of survival for the victim is less than 5% and so without your help, that person has a very low chance of survival. P.S. The Good Samaritan Laws are the same set of laws that protect you if you were to help pull somebody out of a burning building. Click here to read more about The Good Samaritan Laws that are applicable to your state.
WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE THE ZOLL AED PLUS FOR MY LOCATION?
As a distributor, we have the option to carry as many or as little AED brands as we would like, however, we have done the research for you and we choose to only carry the Zoll AED Plus for several important reasons:
Most layperson/user-friendly AED
Provides the best support for the rescuer
World’s first and only full-rescue AED with “Real-CPR Help”
Lowest Total Cost of Ownership: Easiest and least expensive AED to maintain
WHAT IS “REAL-CPR HELP”?
“Real-CPR Help” is a built in technology within the AED that give the AED the capability to not only be able to deliver a shock, but also the first AED in the world to measure the rate and depth of your compressions and give you instantaneous feedback. If you are doing CPR and are not meeting the 2-inch marker, the AED will tell you to “PUSH HARDER” in order to reach the 2-inches in depth and if you are providing high-quality CPR, the AED will say, “GOOD COMPRESSIONS”.
Watch a demo of the Zoll AED Plus below:
Why is the “Real-CPR Help” feature and “high-quality CPR” in general so important? Research has shown that only about 50% of all victims that go down with cardiac arrest will need a shock delivered, and so when the AED prompts, “NO SHOCK ADVISED”, the only option that is left is to perform CPR. “Real-CPR Help” has been proven to drastically increase survival rates in sudden cardiac arrest victims. This gives the rescuers the confidence they need to help all sudden cardiac arrest victims, and not just the victims who require a shock. The Zoll AED Plus provides the BEST possible care for the victim and the BESTpossible support for the rescuer. Simply put, it is the most user-friendly and lay-person friendly AED on the market today and provides support for ALL victims.
The graphs below compare cardiac arrest survival rate with an AED that does not have the “Real-CPR Help” feature and how much of an increase there is when you have the “Real-CPR Help” feature. Huge Jump in a positive direction!
P.S. Watch the demo above to see how the Zoll works!!
WHAT COMES WITH THE ZOLL AED PLUS?
Each Zoll AED Plus unit comes fully equipped with:
1 Set of Adult Pads
1 Set of 123A Camera Lithium Batteries (10 in a pack)
1 Rescue Accessory Pack (scissors, dry razor, wet wipe, dry wipe, gloves, and face shield included)
1 AED Carrying Case
7-Year Warranty*
A physician’s script
*The unit comes with a 5-year warranty but if you register your device online, you can get an additional 2-year warranty on the device.
WHAT IS THE SHELF-LIFE OF THE PADS AND BATTERIES FOR THE ZOLL AED PLUS?
The pads and batteries have a 5-year shelf-life. Unlike the other AEDs on the market today, the Zoll AED Plus is maintenance free for the first 5 years.
WHAT ABOUT MAINTENANCE COSTS ON REPLACING THE PADS AND BATTERIES?
Making sure that your AED is always maintained is a critical step to being in compliance. The great thing about the Zoll AED Plus is that it is maintenance-free for the first 5-years of ownership. This means that once installed, there is nothing to replace and nothing to buy in the first 5 years of ownership. Only at the beginning of the 6th year would you need to replace the pads and batteries for a total cost of under $300.00. No other AED on the market today has such a low Total Cost of Ownership: Only the Zoll AED Plus. As a local Western-Pennsylvania Company, we will provide you with courtesy reminders of when you pads and batteries are due to expire. Contact us today to see Zoll’s Total Cost of Ownership reference document!
WHY SHOULD I PURCHASE THE ZOLL AED PLUS THROUGH SQUARE ONE MEDICAL?
Square One Medical has been in business for 18 years and is the largest distributor of AEDs throughout Western Pennsylvania and the tri-state area. We are based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but have placed AEDs on a national-scale. We have placed well over 1,000 AED units into a variety of markets such as manufacturing companies, office complexes, churches, schools, fitness and recreational centers, and many other various public locations: We know the AED market. Contact us for a request of a specific reference list of our customers!
DOES SQUARE ONE MEDICAL PROVIDE TRAINING ON THE ZOLL AED PLUS?
The Zoll AED Plus is made to be used by a layperson that may have little to no training, however, we always recommend initial training if you have never had any sort of AED training before. This is the purpose of the optional training that Square One offers which can be included in the price of the AED. We will come in to your location to familiarize and train your employees on the AED and answer any and all questions. We will also come in and help you with the set-up and placement of your devices. We are with you each step of the way. What is the price of the Zoll AED Plus?
The price for the Zoll AED Plus depends on several important factors such as the quantity of AEDs that are desired and also if training on the AED is necessary. Square One Medical offers several different packages based on your needs. Contact us today for a quote!
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