AED TIPS
KIDS SAVE LIVES included in its statutory purposes, the project of informing the Greek citizens about the Automated External Defibrillators. Today, having many years of experience in the issues of USE, PURCHASE, INSTALLATION, RECORDING and CONTROL of Defibrillators, it answers your possible questions.v
USE OF DEFIBRILLATOR
The Automated External Defibrillator is an essential tool of Basic Life Support for ON TIME treatment of heart failure victims.
BASIC LIFE SUPPORT: During Basic Life Support, the resuscitator gains “time” and “brain protection” with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation skills for the benefit of the victim, while using the AED acts to address the existing arrhythmia.
EASY TO USE: The device is made for health professionals and educated citizens, which guides you step by step through simple visual and voice instructions.
PULSE CONTROL: An electrocardiogram (ECG) is performed through the AED electrodes, in order for the device to recognize if the victim’s heart condition requires defibrillation. Guides for the administration of defibrillation or for the initiation of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, with 100% reliability. This also ensures the issue of SAFETY USE of the device by a citizen, as the machine will approve the administration of defibrillation only to a victim of cardiac arrest who has one of the two defibrillating lethal rates: Abdominal Fibrillation (VF) or Abdominal Pulse (VP).
Defibrillation: If defibrillation (SHOCK) is indicated, the machine recommends defibrillation with visual and voice instructions. Pressing the button sends current bidirectionally from one electrode to another in fractions of a second, in order to penetrate the heart and stop the deadly arrhythmia. More than one defibrillation may be needed to stop the arrhythmia.
LEGAL ISSUES: It is perfectly legal for an educated citizen or child to use it (for the Law, what applies to adults also applies to children), while in other States such as Germany, the use of defibrillators is also allowed for uneducated citizens. (Read more in the field LEGAL ISSUES).
EDUCATION: Learn more about the use of AED by participating in a voluntary training program offered by KIDS SAVE LIVES free of charge, or in a certified Basic Life Support seminar (EDUCATION field)
DEFIBRILLATOR PURCHASE
There are many models on the market from numerous companies that manufacture Automatic External Defibrillators. The characteristics that you should look for in order to choose the best for you, are the following:
DEFIBRILLATOR COST: How much does the device cost? Usually in the Greek market the various models range from 1,000 to 1,600 €, with an average of 1,300 €. In other words, it is a very cheap device – which costs as much as an expensive mobile phone – which saves lives!
SPARE PARTS COST: The battery and the self-adhesive electrodes have a service life of 3-5 years. Find out how much spare electrodes and batteries cost, a machine can be cheap – but not value for money – because of the expensive spare parts. We suggest buying 2 electrodes for adults and 1 electrode for children.
ACTION: Ask what defibrillator energy the device is delivering. Most have the ability to defrost up to 200 Joules, while there are machines whose technology allows defibrillation up to 360 Joules. Prefer the machine with the highest energy, as it will help to deal with the deadly arrhythmia more easily.
RELIABILITY: Usually all devices are trusted to get public approval, however look for the quality features of the device according to the research that has been done.
REDUCTION OF THE VAT RATE: The response of the Ministry of Finance to the request of the Association for a reduction of the VAT rate on these rescue machines is pending. We need cheaper devices with a target of 10,000 AEDs by 2030!
KIDS SAVE LIVES after placing 150 AEDs in schools and municipalities, has provided better conditions in several companies due to its humanitarian work, seek our help.
DEFIBRILLATOR INSTALLATION
DISTRIBUTION OF DEFIBRILLATORS: It is recommended to install a Defibrillator per square kilometer – in schools, stadiums, department stores, services and where else there is a large gathering of people -, for immediate use in case of outpatient cardiac arrest (ideally within 3-5 minutes survival of 50-70% of victims). UEFA recommends placing an AED on each pitch, otherwise no training or matches will take place.
STORAGE BOX: KIDS SAVE LIVES recommends the installation of a Defibrillator in a special storage box. If the storage box is placed outdoors, consider – if there are safety issues – the existence of a special security padlock with a four-digit code, which will be known to all certified revivers of the school or municipality.
ESSENTIAL AIDS: Necessary aids in every AED, are: scissors, towel, hair removal razor, gloves and protective mask and ventilation aids (face shield, face shield, Ambu).
ADDITIONAL AIDS: For organized communities such as Kassandra, we recommend an oxygen cylinder, sphygmomanometer, pulse oximeter, aluminum blanket, cervical guardians for children and adults, and equipment to control for life-threatening bleeding.
DEFIBRILLATOR SIGN: Download for free from the site of KIDS SAVE LIVES the international defibrillator signal of ILCOR (white cross and white heart in a green frame, pierced by the symbol of electricity – the lightning -), place it in front of the Defibrillator box and the surrounding area in order to become more recognizable and savior.
FIRST CORRESPONDENT SYSTEM: Seek the help of volunteers of the Association, in order to create and organize the First Correspondent Team of your school or Municipality that will save lives until the arrival of specialized help, through the free application iSAVElives.
DEFIBRILLATOR CONTROL
REGISTRATION: Record your Defibrillator on the KIDS SAVE LIVES National Defibrillator Map, in order to inform the First Correspondents about his position and other critical information, such as the necessary aids, or contact details in case the AED is kept.
ANNUAL CHECK: The volunteers of our Association will regularly check – by phone or electronically – the condition of your device (battery, existence and functionality of electrodes, etc.) in order to ensure its proper operation when needed. In the recent past, this organization helped save the 14-year-old teenage football player of Nea Moudania and other victims of outpatient cardiac arrest.
