Defibrillation equipment, or defibrillators, are used for the treatments of cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation, and pulses ventricular tachycardia. A defibrillators provides a therapeutic amount of electrical energy to the affected heart by depolarizing a critical mass of the muscle, terminating the arrythmia and allows the normal sinus rhythm to be reestablished by the body's natural pacemaker. Basically, defibrillators are devices that send a high-energy electric shock administered to the heart to treat life-threatening arrhythmias--the process known as defibrillation.
Manual External Defibrillators
Many of these units have built in electrocardiogram readers, however devices without electrocardiogram readers are able to use the manual external defibrillator can work in conjunction with one. Trained health professionals are trained to read and interpret these units, as they are able to diagnose a larger range of problems, as well as being safer to use in emergency cardiac situations.
Automated External Defibrillators
Automated external defibrillators (AED) are designed to analyze heart rhythms, which will then advise the user whether shock is necessary or not for resuscitation. AEDs have become one of the most important tools in public venues because they are still the only way to resuscitate a person who has had a cardiac arrest not witnessed by technicians. These venues include, but are not limited to offices, shopping centers, airports, and stadiums.
