Automatic External Defibrillator

Many public buildings now have automatic external defibrillators, or AEDs for short. These are marked with a green and white sign, on which a heart with a flash and a cross can be seen. In the event of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, anyone may remove the AED from its anchorage and use it.

The devices are optimized for lay use. This means that the devices are easy to use. Each device has two buttons, an on-button and a shock button.

After pressing the on-button, the device starts talking and gives the user exact instructions on what to do. The adhesive electrodes must be placed on the chest of the person concerned as marked. Afterwards the instruction is given not to touch the affected person.

The device analyses the heart rhythm and decides whether defibrillation is necessary. A defibrillation is only activated in case of ventricular fibrillation, i.e. when the heart function receives chaotic current signals. In case of a complete cardiac arrest, the AED does not trigger.

If the AED decides that a shock is useful, the shock button flashes and the assistant is asked not to touch the patient and to press the button. In addition to using the AED, normal CPR must always be performed. The AED is only an aid.

The normal AED is not to be used until the patient is about eight years old. However, on some devices there are additional pediatric electrodes that allow the AED to use a lower voltage when shocking. The AED does not trigger in case of a complete cardiac arrest.

If the AED decides that shock is appropriate, the shock button flashes and the caregiver is prompted not to touch the patient and to press the button. In addition to using the AED, normal CPR must always be performed. The AED is only an aid.

The normal AED is not to be used until the patient is about eight years old. However, on some devices there are additional pediatric electrodes that allow the AED to use a lower voltage when shocking. Heart attack is one of the most common causes of death in Western countries.

It is caused by a blockage of the coronary arteries, i.e. the blood vessels that supply the heart with oxygen. This leads to the death of the heart muscles and thus to cardiac arrhythmia or even cardiac arrest. The typical symptoms of a heart attack are chest tightness, radiating pain especially in the left arm and shortness of breath.

Some affected persons, especially women, also show atypical symptoms, such as jaw pain or abdominal pain. If a heart attack is suspected, an emergency call must always be made. The affected person should be positioned with a raised upper body so that no additional pressure is exerted on the weakened heart.

Tight ties or scarves can be removed. If there is an AED in the immediate vicinity, it should be fetched by another helper. This is a precautionary measure.

If the person becomes unconscious, the breathing should be checked again. If breathing is present, a lateral position should be used and if breathing is absent, resuscitation should be initiated. All observations should be reported to the rescue service.

Stroke is one of the most common emergencies in the western world and one of the most common causes of need for care. A stroke is a blocked or ruptured blood vessel in the brain. The areas of the brain that are supplied by this vessel die.

Depending on the localization, the symptoms can vary greatly, but there are some symptoms that serve as warning signs and require a direct emergency call. The affected person may have a hemiplegia of the facial muscles on one side and thus show a crooked facial expression. Paralysis of one side of the body is also possible.

Furthermore, the affected person may have speech disorders and indicate headaches.The consciousness can also be clouded. In the case of each individual symptom, the rescue service must be called immediately. In addition to the emergency call, permanent care of the affected person is necessary.

The upper body should be elevated, but an armchair rather than a chair is recommended, as the risk of falling is less. In any case, the rescue service should be informed when the symptoms have started, as this is important for further treatment in hospital. If the patient has high blood pressure, no medication should be taken by the patient himself, as blood pressure is necessary to keep the brain supplied with oxygen.

Epilepsy is only one of many reasons why a person can have a seizure. In the case of a whole-body seizure without consciousness, the first-aider cannot intervene directly. Under no circumstances should the person affected be held down and no biting wedges should be used.

Both the helper and the person affected are at risk of injury. Objects in the immediate vicinity should be put away or padded with blankets. After the seizure the affected person is usually very tired or almost unconscious.

A lateral position should be used. The rescue service must be informed of any seizure. There is hardly a group of emergency pictures that can be more different than poisoning.

The rescuer should always pay attention to self-protection first, as some poisons can be absorbed through the skin or the respiratory tract. After the emergency call has been made, basic measures, such as lying on your side while unconscious, should be taken and the helper should secure the poison. Since some poisons cause renewed damage when vomiting, this should not be done without informing the poison control center.

Drinking water can also be harmful, depending on the poison, so always wait for the rescue service or call the poison emergency center. The fire department control center can make this call itself or put the helper through. Burns are rather rare injuries, but can occur when handling cleaning agents or at certain workplaces.

First of all, the first aider must also take care of himself so that he does not come into contact with the substance. The first measure is to rinse the affected area, otherwise corrosive substances can continue to eat into the skin. Afterwards, the helper can cover the wound sterilely with bandages or compresses and alert the rescue service.

Asthma is a widespread disease that often affects younger people. Those affected develop it, triggered by influences such as weather, sport, allergies, stress and shortness of breath. The problems are especially when breathing out.

Many asthmatics have emergency sprays, which the first aider can help with. Breathing instructions against the slightly closed lips can also help some people affected. If the application of the spray has no immediate effect, an emergency call should be made.

Opening tight clothing can help the person affected psychologically. A birth is a natural process and not always an emergency. However, a birth should not necessarily take place on the bus or in a store.

The first aider can ask the woman to pant away contractions so that the actual birth pangs are stopped. The woman should not push yet. The emergency call should also be made here.

If the birth has already started, the first aider should shield the woman and get dry towels. After the birth, the helper should not cut the umbilical cord under any circumstances, as this can lead to severe blood loss if performed incorrectly. Slight hypoglycaemia can affect anyone, but a severe drop in blood sugar is only to be expected in known diabetics who have injected too much insulin or eaten too little.

Those affected therefore often know themselves what their problem is. As long as the affected person is conscious and can swallow safely, the first-aider can give this glucose or sweet drinks. With loss of consciousness the basic measures of first aid are to be accomplished again.

If the sugar is sufficiently effective, no emergency service is required, but in more severe cases an emergency call should be made. High temperatures and solar radiation can be very damaging to the human body. In the case of sunstroke, the affected person has a red head and reports dizziness, headaches and nausea.

The heat stroke patient is warm and exhausted all over the body.Both in the case of sunstroke and heat stroke, the helper should bring the person concerned out of the sun into a cool, shady area. Wet cloths can be used to cool the head during sunstroke. The affected person should be stored with a raised upper body.

For both diseases, the first aider can also offer the affected person cool drinks. In case of impaired consciousness or severe nausea and neck pain, an emergency call should be made. Frostbite is a localized injury that must be covered with sterile drapes and treated by a physician.

Hypothermia is a disease characterized by a drop in body temperature. As long as the patient is still shivering, the helper can take him/her to a warm room and offer warm drinks. If the patient is severely hypothermic and does not tremble, he should not be moved.

The helper should dial the emergency call and organize blankets for the affected person. No active heat should be added. That means no hot-water bottles, no hairdryer and also no skin rubbing.

However, if the patient is not conscious, the lateral position is still necessary. Sports injuries, traffic accidents and many other situations can lead to bone fractures. A distinction is made between open and closed fractures.

An open fracture should be sterilely covered by the first aider. Broken bones should be left in their original position and possibly be stabilized with blankets. A displaced fracture is not repaired by the first aider, as this can lead to further damage and pain.

Some patients can be helped by cooling with wet cloths or wrapped cool packs. In this case, the rescue service must also be called again. Burns are among the most painful injuries that a person can suffer.

For burns smaller than the palm of a hand, the rescuer should cool the area with lukewarm water. The water should not be poured directly onto the wound, but should run in slowly. All burn injuries should be covered sterilely.

If available in the first-aid kit, Aluderm dressings should be used as they are less sticky. Burn victims should always go to a hospital, for larger areas always with the emergency services. Under no circumstances should the first aider apply ointments to the skin.

The eyes are very sensitive organs and the loss of sight is a great fear for many people. In the event of burns or other foreign bodies in the eye, the first aider can carefully rinse the affected eye from the inside out so that the substances do not hit the second eye as they rinse. In the case of open injuries, both eyes, including the healthy one, must be covered sterilely, as the eyes move in a coupled fashion. Here, the care of the first aider is very important because the affected person cannot see what is happening to him. The rescue service must be alerted, since the affected person needs a special clinic.