AEDs in Kirksville

Automated External Defibrillators in the Kirksville Community

                                                        

The heart is powered by an electrical signal. This signal provides the rate and rhythm of which the heart will beat by causing it to contract. It is these contractions that pump blood to the rest of the body. When this electrical signal is disrupted, abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias occur that cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or not at all. A severe arrhythmia is called ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation can be caused by congenital heart disease, electrocution, heart attack, heart muscle diseases, heart surgery, lack of oxygen to the heart, and sudden cardiac arrest ("What is sudden," 2011).

Symptoms of a ventricular fibrillation such as a heart attack include chest pain, dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, excessive tiredness, sensations of your heart skipping a beat, difficulty breathing, or chest discomfort among others ("Symptoms and diagnosis," 2011). In the United States, there are 1.5 million heart attacks each year with 500,000 deaths (Women's Heart Foundation, 2007). In Adair County, Missouri, heart attacks rated at 68% of all deaths ("Heart disease profile,"). Up to 60% of all of these victims could have been saved with the use of an automated electrical defibrillator (AED). An automated external defibrillator(AED) is a light weight, battery operated, portable device that can check heart rhythm and send an electric shock to restore normal rhythm if needed ("What is an," 2011). The chances of survival after a cardiac event diminish by 10 percent for each minute without the use of an AED ("Automated external defibrillators," 2011).  In fact, the victim’s best chance for survival lies within the 4 minute mark after the event had occurred. Overall, the American Red Cross estimates that 50,000 lives could be saved each year if AEDs were used more frequently ("Automatic external defibrillators," 2012).

AEDs are advantageous in several ways. If an AED is present, any bystander could grab it and easily connect it to the victim to assess the heart rhythm. If the AED perceives that the heart rhythm can be treated with a shock, the AED automatically sends an electrical current to the heart. This shock briefly stops the electrical signal that is preset in the heart which can reset the heart’s electrical current, and therefore reset the rhythm to save a person’s life.

All AEDs on the market are FDA approved and work reliably. They are easily accessible to the public with the exception of their cost. Additionally, an AED can be used on any adult or child as young as 8 weighing at least 55 pounds (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). AEDs use visual and voice prompts to guide the rescuer through the use of the device. All devices have electronic self-tests to test their batteries regularly therefore allowing the AED to tell you if it is ready to use. Finally, they all come with 5-year manufacturer’s warranty ("Aed - defibrillators," 2011).

AEDs are critical. It is estimated that 95% of all cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital. 60% of these people could have been saved if an AED was used. In a cardiac emergency without the presence of an AED, the average response time for emergency personnel is about 12 minutes according to the American Heart Association. Permanent damage to the brain and body occurs after only 10 minutes without oxygen (Cardiac Science).  

It is because of these shocking facts, the benefits of AEDs, and the lack of AEDs in the Kirksville community in Adair County that the Northeast Missouri Heart Health Corporation was formed. The goal of the NEMO Heart Health Corporation is to place 50 AEDs in the Kirksville community within 5 years. In January 2011, the first bunch of AEDs was purchased with the funds from the 2010 Gents and Joules Heart Gala Fundraiser. Currently, the group is starting their third year with almost 30 AEDs already placed around the community (" nemo heart health," 2011). This group sees the need for AEDs in all public places and encourages you to work toward getting AEDs in your workplace.

By: Aurora Powell

RESOURCES:

Automatic external defibrillators (aed). (2012). Retrieved from http://www.acep.org/content.aspx?id=26022

Aed - defibrillators. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.themedsupplyguide.com/aed/

Cardiac Science. (n.d.). Aed usage: statistics. Retrieved from http://www.cardiacscience.com/assets/012/6382.pdf

Emergency room: Residents of adair county. (2009). Retrieved from http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/mica/er.php?&row=6&col=4&sort=0&geo=3&configfile=configs/config_er.php&screen_id=&bw=0&seladj=3&uadj=1&prob=0&menu=0&dwn=0&flip=0&pasrc=1&rc=4&sx=3&pa=9&yr[]=2009&ct[]=001&pasag=1&ag=6&et=9&ca[]=520&pasca=3

Interesting aed facts. (2003, August). Retrieved from http://aed4u.com/aed_factsfigures.cfm

Heart disease profile - for adair county. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/ASPsHeartDisease/header.php?cnty=001

NEMO heart health brings aeds to city. (2011, December 22). Kirksville Daily Express. Retrieved from http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/features/x1980196202/-7-NEMO-Heart-Health-brings-AEDs-to-city

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2011, June 10). Automated external defibrillators: Do you need an aed?. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/automated-external-defibrillators/HB00053

Part 4: The automated external defibrillator. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/automated-external-defibrillators/HB00053

Symptoms and diagnosis of a heart attack . (2011, November 22). Retrieved from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/SymptomsDiagnosisofHeartAttack/Symptoms-and-Diagnosis-of-Heart-Attack_UCM_002041_Article.jsp

What is an automated external defibrillator?. (2011, December 02). Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/aed/

What is sudden cardiac arrest?. (2011, April 1). Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/scda/

Women's Heart Foundation. (2007, February). Heart attack facts. Retrieved from http://www.womensheart.org/content/heartattack/heart_attack_facts.asp