Safeguarding Briefing - 23rd January 2023 (2)
Dear Colleagues,
IMPORTANT UPDATE TO TODAY'S BRIEFING
Defibrillators - How to Use Them
In today's Safeguarding Briefing we referred to the government's new non-statutory guidance document 'Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)'. In the article we conflated the terms 'cardiac arrest' and 'heart attack' and as a result gave the impression that they are the same condition and defibrillators could be used in both situations. This is not the case: a cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. Thank you to everyone who got in touch to let us know.
Here we quote from the guidance:
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED or ‘defibrillator’) is a machine that is placed externally on the body and is used to give an electric shock when a person is in cardiac arrest i.e., when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body.
Cardiac arrest
A cardiac arrest is a life-threatening emergency where a person’s heart has suddenly stopped pumping blood around the body. The person will be unconscious, unresponsive and will not be breathing normally or not breathing at all. It is essential to call 999 immediately for an ambulance.
Heart attack
A heart attack happens when a blood clot blocks an artery around the heart...[the person does] not usually lose consciousness and continue breathing. It is vital that you call an ambulance immediately as this is a life-threatening situation. If the person is still conscious, this means their heart is still beating and CPR and/or the use of a defibrillator is not appropriate.
A defibrillator is only appropriate when the heart has stopped beating. If the heart attack deteriorates to a cardiac arrest, then it is appropriate to start CPR and use a defibrillator.
The guidance document can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1130210/Automated_External_Defibrillators_Guidance_jan_23.pdf
I'm so sorry for making this important mistake. Ironically, the error shows how easily it is to confuse these two medical conditions. I don't know how I've got to my age without understanding the difference between the two. It is a reminder that more awareness is so important.
Andrew |