EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Seriously??

So do I ... but the only way to ensure that is to grab one* off the nearest Crash Cart!

Personally, I wouldn't place too much reliance on the one in the "remote village" (mountain top, wherever), train station or shopping centre. In fact, as hinted at before, myself I would ignore the thing altogether (or rather, leave it for someone else to have a go with) and make best efforts with CPR.

* Assuming they have been maintained as we would all have hoped.

Someone has just sent me this link; thought that others may be interested!

No Home?!!! should be without one.
"It's the latest in essential safety equipment"
Essential?? Talk about marketing to the worried well.
Robert

The latest "must have" gadget* for the "early adopters"?

Or, considering the "target audience", maybe that should be "the Apple generation".

Well, since the equipment "markets" in hospitals and WHY are pretty well saturated now (in the so-called "West", that is), I suppose that the Big Players feel the need to venture out into "Point of Care", and beyond (closer?).

Meanwhile, I wonder if an AED has been issued to the "Village" at Calais, yet? No doubt the camera crews carry one with them.

From what I've heard (and read), the folk camping out there are pretty clued up about their "rights".

* Can't really see it taking off until it becomes available as an app for Smart-Phones, though.

I'll wait until there's an app on my phone for that.

I have come across this piece about AED's.

As so often is the case, I found that the Comments (by some pretty "learned" folk in some cases) were more interesting than the article itself.

Meanwhile, this (older) article is a bit more encouraging. There's some good "history" in there, as well.

Morning Geoff,

Interesting articles. Refreshing to see some history in the content on the second article. Made a good read over my morning coffee

Thanks for sharing.

Lee.

In one place I know, there is an AED contained (we think, expect, hope) in a closed steel box bolted to the wall outside the Village Hall. To access the AED you have to punch in a series of buttons on the security lock. To get the code you need to call the number given on the box, whereby (presumably) someone will answer giving you the code - and, who knows, words of advice and (or) encouragement.

I'll leave it to you to list the number of things that may (and undoubtedly someday will) go wrong there ... but let's start with:-

"What if I don't have my cell-phone with me"?

As I may have mentioned before, I believe it would be far better if "everyone" (eg, school kids) were taught CPR (and, or that matter, basic First Aid). That way, perhaps we would have less drama when people actually need help; and fewer idiots running around like headless chickens screaming "OMG! OMG!" (or whatever).

Meanwhile, the last time I (as a mere passer-by) stopped to assist an elderly gentleman who had tripped over a curb, it seemed that all the other folk around (it was a busy day in a small seaside town) were interested in was taking our picture on their [censored] smartphones! Then, blow me, when the First Responder (ambulance car) turned up - hailed from the shop the guy had just visited - we (and especially the "patient") had to wait while she took an "urgent" call (yeah, an urgent "social" call that is - as I was right next to her). Was I impressed? I'll leave you to guess. No doubt you can also guess who it was who heaved the old guy into the back seat of the Skoda estate.

Totally agree Geoff. CPR training is vastly underestimated and I don't think a ' staying alive ' song themed TV advert now and again cuts the mustard!

I believe that there is a ( or has been ) a project to utilise old phone boxes to store defibrillators with an access code in Wales if I remember correctly?? which I thought was a great idea!

I have often wondered if there was another option for the keypad access but struggle to think of a solution that would fully work and stop thefts and criminal damage to the devices when stored in public... I guess the only option that I could think of was to have a intercom/webcam type installation on the lock box instead of calling a number? ( Like you said Geoff, what if your phone battery was dead, you had left your phone in your car or what if you are in a remote location with no service signal? )

I am glad to hear that defibs are slowly becoming more user friendly ( automated ) with less risk to the patient from untrained users but I guess there is still a long way to go!

It's also a long way to go if you encounter someone flaked out on a coastal footpath, in the middle of moorland, or a forest ... or half-way up Ben Nevis!

Although I seem to remember that the phone-box could just about be seen from the top of Pen-y-Fan ... it would be a bit of long jog down (and then up again)!