FAQ’s
Do you have a question about AED’s, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, or Save Station that we haven’t covered? Let us know!
AED stands for ‘Automated External Defibrillator’ and it is a machine that delivers a shock to a heart that is in fibrillation. An AED is used to revive someone who has suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).
Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating normally and cannot pump blood to the rest of the body.
Signs of cardiac arrest:
-Cardiac arrest happens suddenly. There are usually no warning signs.
-The person collapses. They don’t respond to touch or sound.
-They either make gasping sounds or stop breathing entirely.
source: The Heart & Stroke Foundation
Cardiac arrest and heart attack are not the same, although people often confuse the terms. Both are medical emergencies.
Cardiac Arrest
-Is an electrical problem in the heart.
-The heart goes into an erratic and ineffective rhythm and cannot pump blood to the rest of the body
-Within minutes, the heart stops entirely.
-That’s why it’s so important to act quickly.
A person in cardiac arrest usually collapses without warning
They won’t respond when you touch or talk to them
They either make gasping sounds or stop breathing entirely.
Heart Attack
-Is a “plumbing” problem in the heart.
-Blood flow is slowed or blocked.
-The heart is still beating effectively.
Person is generally conscious. They are often in discomfort.
Source: Heart & Stroke Foundation
