BLAKE GRACE, director of Ventria, a company that offers a Managed AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR (AED) Services Programme SUPPLYING AEDS on a subscription basis, discusses sudden cardiac arrest and the importance of having an AED close at hand.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest – a leading cause of death

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is caused by an acute and unexpected malfunction of the heart and can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. In most cases, an erratic heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation is diagnosed. The heart stops pumping blood, and the person loses consciousness and stops breathing. 

Early defibrillation, the only treatment

The most important element in the treatment of SCA is to provide a rapid shock to the person’s heart – called defibrillation – within three to five minutes after collapse. After 10 minutes there is no realistic chance of survival. Early defibrillation is the only treatment. 

Why is it important to implement an AED programme?

A reliable, effective and easy-to-use AED allows ordinary people with little or no training to help save a life by delivering a shock quickly and effectively.

An efficient programme of public access to defibrillators (PAD) – in buildings and public areas – would optimally be able to achieve a three-minute response time from collapse of the patient to arrival, on-scene, of the AED. 

What are the benefits of having a Ventria AED? 

If an organisation is equipped with a Ventria AED, anyone would be able to help save a life if an incident occurs. Through the Ventria Managed AED Services Programme first responders can be confident that the AED is ready to rescue and trust that the technology will deliver that for which it has been designed. 

Ventria has chosen to market the Philips HeartStart defibrillator, which is manufactured for people who have never used a defibrillator. They are proven to be safe, reliable, quick and effective. It also includes automatic life-guidance features (like voice prompts and CPR coaching) to help guide the first responder through the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest. 

The Philips HeartStart also features SMART analysis. This automatically assesses the victim’s heart rhythm. Whether the victim is a man, woman or child, it delivers the right amount of therapy and only if it is needed. Even if the shock button is pressed, the device will only deliver therapy if the heart rhythm is determined to be shockable. 

What goes into owning an AED? 

Committing to being prepared for sudden cardiac arrest is not only about the acquisition and installation of an AED; a key responsibility is delivering continuous access and ensured readiness. 

Setting up, operating and maintaining an AED programme is complex. Keeping track of key areas will help to keep AEDs ready. These include: battery and electronic function, condition of electrode pads, the physical condition of the AED, the lifecycle/age of the AED, and tools that can track and manage all the details. 

The Resuscitation Council UK and British Heart Foundation (in the Guide to AEDs) advise that those owning an AED should have a process in place for it to be checked regularly and frequently, ideally daily. It may be the difference between life and death! 

Overcoming barriers

Managing an AED comes with responsibility. In order to comply with the recommendations of Resuscitation Councils, American Heart Association and British Heart Foundation, Ventria offers innovative solutions and services to help overcome barriers by making safe and reliable AEDs affordable and publicly accessible: managing and monitoring them 24/7, ensuring they are ready to rescue. 

SmartLink

Ventria’s AEDs are remotely monitored with SmartLink, a unique and innovative monitoring tool that comes ready installed inside the carrying case of the AED. It is wireless, connects over mobile networks and contains its own power source. This automatically monitors the status of the AED every day, notifying Ventria when an error occurs and ensuring all defibrillators are under control – in a building, public areas, farms and worldwide. 

In cases of emergency

SmartLink also features a removal alarm and hands-free voice connection for live dispatch support, automatically starting a pre-defined rescue chain, optimising response time and quick therapy delivery. 

The first responder will be promptly connected to the emergency services, assisting them to confidently help save a life.

A unique programme 

The Ventria Managed AED Services Programme is smart, efficient and tailored to customers’ needs. It is as simple and seamless as possible, thanks to a carefree service subscription plan, featuring innovative solutions that provide peace of mind and confidence to AED owners and first responders. 

It includes full assistance with matters ranging from planning to implementation, programme management and post-event support. The AED, maintenance, management and financing are included under the terms of the agreement. There are no additional charges to the maintenance and remote monitoring of the unit, including replenishment pads and batteries, software upgrades and device replacements.  

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.