In China, every minute a person falls without warning due to cardiac arrest, and immediately enters the countdown to sudden death.
The time left for them is not much, usually only ten minutes, but medical staff often cannot arrive within this time.
Keep calm, maybe in the moment, you can save his life.
First, we need to know how a cardiac arrest occurs.
This is a normal beating heart. The beating rhythm of the heart is dominated by the sinoatrial node. The current signal is sent from here first, along the conduction system to stimulate the atria and ventricles to contract, squeeze the blood in the atria into the ventricles, and then push the blood to flow to the aorta and pulmonary arteries. The heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute, which is called sinus rhythm.
When the electrical signal of the heart is abnormal, it will disrupt the original normal rhythm.
For example, the rapid and uncoordinated contraction of ventricular muscle cells prevents the ventricles from pumping blood to the arteries. The fibrillation frequency reaches 200 to 500 times per minute, which is called ventricular fibrillation, also called ventricular fibrillation. The most common arrhythmia of sudden cardiac death.
The most effective way to restore the heart of ventricular fibrillation to normal is to perform electrical defibrillation.
Apply a pulse of electric current to the heart, like a command to stop all electrical activity, depolarize the myocardial cells, and end the current abnormal heart rhythm, waiting for the sinus node to re-issue the normal “command”.
Outside the hospital, this key pulse current comes from AED, an automatic external defibrillator. You can find it in airports, subways, and shopping malls.
How can ordinary people without medical expertise also use AED?
AED is easy to operate, It is connected to the host by two electrode sheets through wires. Turn on the power and firmly stick the electrode pads to the corresponding position on the chest. Then, it will automatically detect the heart rhythm, determine whether it needs electric shock defibrillation within 5 to 15 seconds, and give voice prompts.
It should be noted that the position of the electrode pads is very important. One piece is attached to the second intercostal space on the right side of the patient’s sternum, and the other piece is attached to the anterior axillary line of the fifth intercostal space on the left side of the sternum, that is, when we face the patient, the electrodes are roughly at the upper left and lower right positions.
However, in the real rescue of cardiac arrest, AED alone is not enough.
Facing a person who suddenly falls down, first of all, make sure that he is out of the dangerous environment, such as a car accident or a fire.
If you have not received professional medical training, then you have to pat his shoulder vigorously and call out to quickly determine whether he has lost consciousness and breathing. Such asIf there is no response, call 120 and ask others to quickly fetch the AED.
At the same time, you need to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the patient, press the chest 30 times at a frequency of 100 to 120 times per minute, at least 5 cm deep down; then open the airway, press the forehead and lift the chin, Clean up foreign objects in his mouth, such as food and dentures; then perform 2 artificial respirations, pinch his nostrils when blowing, and loosen his fingers after blowing.
If you have not received artificial respiration training, you can also perform pure chest compressions.
Until the AED arrives, follow the instructions of the machine to perform CPR immediately after each defibrillation, so that the heart between the sternum and spine is squeezed to drive blood flow.
According to the 2015 update of the AHA Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Cardiovascular First Aid, if youThere is an AED just beside the head, which can be used directly after calling 120.
Combined with multiple studies, the American Heart Association (AHA) also pointed out in the “Guide” that defibrillation is performed within the first minute of ventricular fibrillation, and the survival rate is as high as 90%. Every minute of delay in rescue, survival The rate will drop by 7% to 10%.
The role of AED is unquestionable, but the question is, is our AED enough?
At present, Shenzhen, Haikou, and Shanghai are the cities with the most abundant AED resources in China, with more than ten AEDs per 100,000 people.
But this is not enough. Compared with 700 units in the United States, 276 units in Japan, and the standard of “100 to 200 units per 100,000 people” recommended by experts, the lack of domestic AEDs is particularly obvious.
In addition, the current AED delivery is also unreasonable. Take Beijing East Third Ring Road as an example. The AEDs here are usually about 2 kilometers apart. Coupled with the search time, it is difficult to complete emergency defibrillation within ten minutes. The signs are not obvious, the installation site is not open all day, and the staff can’t operate it… It also reduces its function.
However, there is good news. On October 27 this year, Beijing Metro officially launched the AED configuration work. It is estimated that by the end of this year, 104 stations on these 7 lines will have one AED at each station, and eventually will cover all subway stations in Beijing by the end of 2022.
In September this year, the “China Cardiovascular Health and Disease Report 2019” brought the latest data. Compared with the previous year, about 40 million Chinese people suffering from cardiovascular disease increased, and its mortality rate, Has been at the top of the list.
Thousands of AEDs may be able to pull the ever-higher death curve to a lower place, and through countless you and me relays, the hope and courage of life will be continued together.