Defibrillators were first demonstrated in 1899 by Jean-Louis Prévost and Frédéric Batelli, two physiologists who discovered that small electrical shocks could induce ventricular fibrillation in dogs, and that larger charges would reverse the condition.

Since then, defibrillators have undergone over a century of technological development; material advances have reduced their weight and other technologies have been incorporated to deliver more effective life-saving results – thanks to which management of cardiac arrests outside the hospital is now possible.

We’ve put together a fact sheet detailing the birth of defibrillators, as well as the changes they’ve seen:

What’s a Defibrillator?

A defibrillator, also called an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), is a medical device that delivers an electric shock to restore a normal heart rhythm in someone who’s experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

Think you know everything there is to know about defibrillators?

Not quite! Check out the following fast facts:

  • Each year in Britain, around 30,000 people are struck by SCA outside of hospital environments, and defibrillators are their surest chance of survival.
  • If a defibrillator is used within the first minute of SCA, the victim has a 90% survival rate – but the survival rate drops by 10% with every minute that passes between SCA and treatment.
  • The likelihood of causing harm to the victim by using a defibrillator is very small.

 

What should you do if you witness SCA?

  1. Call 999

You should alert the emergency services immediately.

  1. Start CPR

While the emergency services are on their way, CPR should be administered as soon as possible.

  1. Locate the nearest defibrillator

You’ll most likely find it in a public place like a train station, a shopping centre, or a school – and use it straight away.

 

Now You Know

We hope that you now have a better idea of what defibrillators are, what they do, and how they can save lives.

For more information on why it’s so important to have easy access to a defibrillator in your establishment, head over to our blog, where you can learn about why your business needs to have a defibrillator as part of your standard safety measure – and much, much more.

defibshop are committed to equipping everyone with the skills and knowledge to save a life. Speak to one of our Product Specialists on 0161 776 7422 or fill out our Contact Form.