You may have noticed a small machine in a brightly colored box with a large ¡°AED¡± logo in many public places. Although you have seen this little machine countless times, you may have no idea about what it is, what it is for, and why you need it.

What Is the AED Used for?

This small, portable AED device is an acronym for the medical term automated external defibrillator. AED unit is a machine for early defibrillation of patients suffering from cardiac arrest, which helps to restore the heartbeat in time to save lives. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) typically occurs without warning. To enable even the non-medically literate to defibrillate SCA patients, AED units need to be simple to use and portable, allowing patients to receive timely assistance and thus improving their chances of survival. When you encounter a patient in SCA outside of a hospital, you can seek out an AED unit for help.

Why is an AED Needed?

As we have previously learned, AED units are medical devices used to resuscitate patients in cardiac arrest, but why are they the most effective solution when out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurs? The following reasons can answer this question:

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Firstly, we should recognize that cardiac arrest is a disease that requires prompt intervention. SCA is a type of serious cardiac arrhythmia caused by the disturbance and interruption in the heart¡¯s electrical conduction system. Most cardiac arrests are caused by ventricular fibrillation ¨C a chaotic electrical impulse that prevents the ventricles from contracting, resulting in inefficient blood pumping. Suppose a patient in cardiac arrest does not receive timely and effective assistance. In that case, the patient can lose consciousness, have difficulty breathing, stop his pulse, and lose his life in as short as a few minutes due to a lack of oxygen and blood circulation to the brain.

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According to studies, cardiac arrest is now one of the leading causes of death in populations worldwide. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs without an intro. A seemingly normal person can go into sudden cardiac arrest anywhere without any warning. In most cases, emergency medical teams can take as little as 7-8 minutes^[1] to arrive at the scene. Consequently, the patient may die within minutes or suffer irreversible brain damage because of untimely or even no defibrillation. Because of the high probability of such incidents, AED units must be widely available in public places so that passers-by can quickly use them to help the patient. As a result, current AED machines are designed to be simple and smart enough to allow even non-trained people to defibrillate a cardiac arrest victim by following the AED device's instructions.

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The whole process of defibrillation is as follows: the AED unit analyses the patient's heart rhythm with electrodes and then concludes whether a shock defibrillation is required; if so, the patient is defibrillated utilizing the AED electrodes, which transmits energy to the patient, so that the disturbed heart rhythm returns to normal, the heart behaves normally as a contraction and blood circulation are restored. In brief, AED units provide timely and effective defibrillation interventions, allowing patients to receive timely help and raise hope for life.

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The potential risk of sudden cardiac arrest increases in high-traffic public places because of the elevated crowd base. Therefore, AED units are must-have devices in all these places. If you are responsible for an area not yet equipped with an AED unit, you should deploy one as soon as possible. In addition, you should also train relevant staff about using AED units and performing cardiac resuscitation, preparing for emergencies.

When purchasing an AED unit for life-saving use, you need to look for a reliable manufacturer. Mindray has always been committed to making simple, intelligent AED units that are efficient and life-saving for global users.?

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With the intelligent voice and visual images of the patented ResQNavi^TM technology developed by Mindray, even ordinary people without a medical background can quickly master the AED unit, thus increasing the possibility of successful defibrillation. This intelligent algorithm provides more appropriate feedback based on the proficiency of the responder, allowing them to adjust the pace of the rescue quickly. To ensure that cardiac arrest victims can be defibrillated promptly and effectively, Mindray's AED units can perform heart rate analysis and simultaneously get ready for discharge, so it can deliver the first shock in just eight seconds after it is switched on. In summary, for AED users, the Mindray AED unit "teaches according to their ability" to improve rescue effectiveness; for patients in cardiac arrest, the Mindray AED responds quickly and reliably.

It is not predictable which type of person will suffer a cardiac arrest. To provide effective treatment toward high-impedance patients (people with high physical impedance and may not be successfully defibrillated with a default 200-joule electric shock), Mindray¡¯s AED products are equipped with state-of-the-art 360J biphasic technology, covering a broader group of cardiac arrest victims.

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Cost-effectiveness is in consideration for many communities or business managers when purchasing an AED. Mindray has extended the life of AED accessories (electrode pads and batteries) to an industry-leading 5 years, effectively reducing the additional cost of subsequent maintenance and replacement of the equipment. In addition, Mindray's AED units have passed the 1.5m drop test and the IP55 level dust and water resistance test, which can effectively improve the cost-effectiveness of the products.

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As the awareness of how to rescue sudden cardiac arrest keeps growing, the deployment of AED equipment and regular AED training is no longer just the primary responsibility of the Red Cross and medical personnel; community and business managers are also starting to become a major force. So if your area has not already been equipped with an AED device,? deploy an easy-to-use? Mindray AED device to save the lives of patients in sudden cardiac arrest in a timely and effective manner.

Reference:
[1]?The Effect of Ambulance Response Time on Survival Following Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. Dtsch Arztebl Int. Volume 115(33-34), August 2018, Pages 541¨C548. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6156551/ (Accessed: 26 January 2022)