Defibrillators

Defibrillators

— devices used for emergency care for acute cardiac arrhythmias — primarily ventricular fibrillation, for some other types of arrhythmias, as well as for cardiac arrest.

Fibrillation is a chaotic, uncoordinated contraction of the ventricles, as a result of which the heart stops pumping blood. This condition is extremely dangerous for life (clinical death occurs within about 2 minutes). The defibrillator is based on the use of a short-term high-voltage electrical impulse: this impulse completely stops the heart and "resets" the heart rate, after which a normal heart rate can be restored naturally.

Originally designed for medical professionals, defibrillators have evolved to include fully automated devices, known as AEDs, accessible to individuals with basic first aid skills. These devices independently assess heart rate data, determine the need for defibrillation (only delivering a discharge if necessary), and automatically set the required power. Users simply need to apply electrodes, ensure safety precautions, and press the discharge button, with advanced models featuring visual or voice prompts. This advancement allows AEDs to serve as life-saving tools in public spaces such as airports, train stations, tourist locations, and more.