Photo-a-Day  (Wednesday, 10th October, 2018)

Is that available for anyone to use ? It is a very dangerous instrument if used on the wrong person. The user needs to correctly diagnose the victim he/she is using it upon.

Alan, can I refer you to a very old Northern saying....''Owt's better than nowt''. There are many of these in so called 'strategic' positions in Wigan and district and also around the country, there are training classes available on how to use them, I know several people who have attended them.

Don't worry Alan - these are faultlessly easy to use. They are fully automated and talk the user through the steps, and diagnose whether the patient is in a shockable rhythm, the user doesn't do this. AEDs are designed to be used by members of the general public, and if a person is in cardiac arrest, early chest compressions and defibrillation improve outcomes. Everyone should learn how to perform basic life support.

Oh! What symbolism.

I know these are easy to use, perhaps too easy. The problem is in using then on a correctly diagnosed person. I have experience of a man collapsing from a small stroke. A standerby thought it was a heart attack and promptly administered a defibrillation, which made the stroke much worse and killed the poor victim.

I know this because I was the emergency doctor who received the patient in hospital. Learn to diagnose the cause of the collapse before rushing in with the defibrillator.

After being trained to use one of those, I was surprised to see how you don't really need training anyway. As has been mentioned, the machine talks you through it. If not needed, a shock can't be delivered. Previously I would have been unwilling to touch such a machine I knew nothing about.

Good bit of kit just passed out on the use of these . Just relax it talks you through it

Alan that would not be possible because the defib will not deliver a shock unless it detects that the heart is in ventricular fibulation . That is why it is known as a De fibulator

Alan - please be reassured that the AED, not the user, diagnoses whether a shock is indicated. The user of the device cannot instigate a shock independently. Even hospital based defibrillators diagnose the patient's heart rhythm and an audible voice command states 'shock advised,'. One would need to be totally incompetent to incorrectly shock a patient.

Ah.... technology has overtaken me !
I was referring to a case forty years ago when the machine fired every time you pressed the button. I've been retired so long now I have never seen one of the new defibrillators. Thank you all for updating me.

Alan