Defibrillators are only as good as the provider

doi:10.1136/bmj.a2274

Published 28 October 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a2274
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a2274

Letters

Automated external defibrillators

Defibrillators are only as good as the provider

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Descatha and Baer point out the evidence of providing defibrillatorsin the workplace and elsewhere, along with the need for a trainingprogramme.[1] My story emphasises that this need is just asgreat as having the defibrillator in the first place.

I recently witnessed a cardiac arrest in a shopping centre ofaround 310 stores. With all the recent literature on the benefitof defibrillators in such a place I expected there to be oneto hand. Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death inEurope, affecting more than 700 000 people each year.[2] Thechance of successful defibrillation declines at a rate of 7-10%with each minute of delay.

I was told there was not a single automated external defibrillator(AED) in the centre and, unfortunately, despite vigorous basiclife support the person died before the ambulance crew couldget him to a defibrillator. Afterwards I found . . . [Full text of this article]

Anna R Gregory, FY2 doctor

¹ Heart of England Foundation Trust, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, West Midlands B9 5ST

anna.gregory@doctors.net.uk