Over 350,000 people in the U.S. die each year from cardiac arrest. Cardiologists believe that over half of these people could be saved if there were widespread availability of defibrillators.

Defibrillators deliver an electric shock that restarts the heart in cardiac arrest victims. Unfortunately, the window of opportunity of saving the victim is around five to six minutes from the time of cardiac arrest. Congested traffic in big cities and long distances in more rural areas make reaching the victim during this crucial time period very difficult. In fact, the odds of being resuscitated in New York City are less than 1%. This is why the American Heart Association (AHA) and cardiologists around the country are pushing for much wider availability of defibrillators. They believe that defibrillators should be available in many places such as factories, health clubs, apartment buildings and in private homes and should be able to be used by a variety of people who are not health care professionals.

The medical facts are alarming. Approximately half of all people who have heart disease die without warning, never having previously shown any symptoms of heart disease. In addition, cardiac arrest does not always mean that a heart attack has occurred. Clogged arteries can actually cause the heart's electrical impulses to become disorganized, which results in a condition called ventricular fibrillation which can last up to five minutes. An electric shock from a defibrillator reorganizes the electrical impulses so that the heart can resume its normal beating. Timing is crucial; with each passing minute the heart has less and less electrical activity. Contrary to what people see on TV and in movies, once a patient has "flat lined", there is no electrical activity left in the heart; it is too late for a defibrillator to save the patient. 

The argument for widespread use of defibrillators has been made possible by the development of a new wave of defibrillators that are much easier to use and can be operated by almost anyone. The devices have several important features.  All of the machines weigh about five pounds and were designed in consultation with the AHA to be simple for amateurs to use. Not only do the five year lithium batteries eliminate the need for maintenance or recharging; computer chips also test the operating system each day. The machines give simple voice instructions so that users in a panic do not need to stop and read directions. According to the manufacturers, heart rhythms can be analyzed by the machine to determine if a shock is needed; if so, the machine then charges up, tells the rescuer to stand clear, and delivers a shock, sometimes two or three if necessary.

Companies are choosing to purchase defibrillators to help ensure the safety of their clients. American Airlines is the first airline to equip all of its planes with defibrillators and other airlines are also considering doing the same. Metro North has ordered defibrillators for its medical emergency carts in Grand Central Station in New York. Some Las Vegas casinos have ordered them as well.

There are four companies that manufacture these machines: Survivalink Corp. of Minneapolis., Laerdal Medical Corp., a Norwegian company that has U.S. headquarters in Wappingers falls, N.Y., Physio-Control Corp. of Redmond, Washington, and Heartstream of Seattle.

This publication was created for public information and awareness only. Orange County local government does not endorse or support any of the businesses mentioned or listed on this web site. If your business is a supplier of AED's, related equipment, or a training center and would like your business to be listed in this publication, please contact the Community Health Initiatives office at (407) 836-9886, or send email to Community Health Initiatives.