Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

Bystander Performance Using Automated External Defibrillators During Simulated Cardiac Arrest, Richard N. Bradley, Lynda M. Schoenstein, Wesley H. Hamilton, Mark R. Boyle

Richard N Bradley

Objective: Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are becoming widely available to the public. This study examined the hypothesis that less than 75% of the general population can defibrillate using an AED in less than three minutes.

Methods: This was a survey of the behavior of individuals over age 12 in a major airport on Jan. 2–3, 2003. After obtaining consent, an investigator told the subject that he/she was walking down the concourse and saw a person collapse. The subject demonstrated his/her response, using only a telephone and an AED simulating ventricular fibrillation. Data were analyzed using a one-sample test of proportions. …

Untrained Volunteers Are Marginally Effective In Delivering Public Access Defibrillation, Richard N. Bradley, Lynda J. Schoenstein, Mohhamad Alshanti

Richard N Bradley

Study objectives: This study analyzed the behavior of untrained volunteers when presented with a simulated cardiac arrest and an automated external defibrillator (AED). The primary hypothesis of this study was that volunteers could, with no advance training, operate an AED to deliver a defibrillation to a mannequin in 3 minutes or less at least 75% of the time. The secondary hypothesis was that this population would perform all of the tasks considered essential in AED use (establish unresponsiveness, check for breathing, give 2 rescue breaths, check for pulse, apply electrodes correctly, clear patient, activate emergency medical services (EMS) response, and …