The AED Superstore Weblog

Stayin' Alive

When the AHA changed its CPR Guidelines in 2005 to increase the rate of chest compressions to 100 compressions per minute (CPM), it was found that many responders had difficulty grasping just exactly how fast that is.  "The most common error is to push too fast," according to Alson S. Inaba, a pediatric emergency physician at Kapiolani Medical Center in Honolulu.  When he asks CPR class members to demonstrate 100 CPM on a manikin, the usual rate is 120-150 CPM, which is much too fast to allow the chest to fully recoil (also part of the new recommendations).

One day, while Dr. Inaba was listening to a recording of the Bee-Gees 1970s disco hit "Stayin' Alive", and acting on a hunch, he timed the song's rhythm and found it was exactly 100 beats per minute.  He now uses that song during CPR training, and the students consistently deliver chest compressions in the range of 99, 100, or 101 CPM.  "Most people know the tune, and it sticks with them" says Dr. Inaba.

He now uses the song in all his CPR classes and has shared it with other CPR instructors.  According to Dr. Inaba, "Hollywood couldn't have written a better script:  'Staying Alive' describes the AHA mission and reminds us what we're trying to achieve with chest compressions, and the song was number 1 in 1979 when AEDs first came out."

Just as a side note:  There is another song with the same tempo that could be used in keeping pace with the proper compression rate, but the title may not be quite as appropriate.  That song is Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust."

Physio-Control's LifePak 1000 deployed on the International Space Station

   

     The first AED we know of deployed into space is the Physio-Control LifePak 1000. The news was released today. Prior space missions used fully manual monitor/defibrillators.

     We really like the post about it at MedGadget, too!

When are you most likely to have a heart attack?

 

   If your answer is something like "immediately after stressful activity," try again! The answer surprised us that on average, the risk is highest between 6am and 12 noon and not after a hard day's work. The entire article is available here from TIME Magazine.

Preventing cardiac arrest in kids

     We discussed the rarity "myth" of pediatric cardiac arrest in a recent post, but now we learn that there's perhaps a preventative measure. Simply screening kids for heart problems before they engage in athletic activities might be all it takes.

     Parents and school officials will want to read this article.

Meet Dr. Bernard Lown...inventor of the defibrillator

     Ask any doctor or paramedic who has been around awhile about what it was like to use an early model defibrillator and you'll hear about how big and heavy they used to be. AEDs weren't even on the radar back then.

     The very first external defibrillator was developed by Dr. Bernard Lown in the 1960's after reading a paper written by Dr. Paul Zoll. (The ZOLL name should be familiar to our readers by now!) It weighed over 60 lbs and was anything but portable. But it was the first major step in changing the way sudden cardiac arrest and other heart arrhythmias were treated and the technology applies today to AEDs.

     The portable defibrillators you'll find at the AED Superstore weigh less than 60 lbs...we promise!

Should kids be taught CPR at a young age?

Yes!

American Academy of Pediatrics says heart problems in kids have been underestimated

     For years the common knowledge about pediatric cardiac arrest centered around the following facts: it's usually brought on by respiratory arrest, and, it's rare.

     The American Academy of Pediatrics believes the problem is not as uncommon as we first thought. You'll find the article here. It could change perception of pediatric cardiac arrest as we know it.

Fake CPR cards racket busted

     We just never knew there was such an "industry!"

Water and dust ingress ratings of AEDs explained

     Every AED has a water and dust ingress rating which classifies the level of protection that electrical appliances (like AEDs) provide against the intrusion of solid objects or dust, accidental contact, and water. The rating has NOTHING to do with how well a particular device can withstand a drop or shock. It is expressed as an "IP Code" which you'll usually see in an AED's sales brochure. The code is expressed as IPXX with "X" being the rating numbers.

     The IP Code stands for "International Protection Rating" or "Ingress Protection Rating.

     The first numerical digit indicates the level of protection against solid particles such as dust or other matter.

Number          Effective Against

0                     No protection against contact and ingress of objects

1                    Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against   deliberate contact with a body part

2                    Fingers or similar objects

3                    Tools, thick wires, etc.

4                    Most wires, screws, etc.

5                    Dust protected--Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete protection against contact

6                   Dust tight--No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact

    The second numerical digit indicates the level of protection from harmful ingress of water.

Number       Effective Against

0                  Not protected

1                  Dripping water

2                  Dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees

3                  Spraying water

4                  Splashing water

5                  Water jets

6                  Powerful water jets

7                  Immersion up to 1 meter

8                  Immersion beyond 1 meter

     The higher each of the numbers in an AED's IP rating, the more protected it is.

     Use this scale as a tool as you shop for AEDs. You won't need to buy an AED with a high rating if it's going to be deployed in an office or school setting. Buy an AED with a higher IP rating if it's to be deployed in a harsh environment with dust and moisture present.

     Yesterday we posted news about a new CPR manikin available at the AED Superstore called CasPeR the CPR dog.

     Now we find that a technique exists to perform CPR on birds. We're not sure of the accreditation, but it does make sense.

     Perhaps a manikin for Avian CPR and rescue breathing is around the corner?