AED Post Event Review, Automated External Defibrillator, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, SCA, Event Review

Not sure what to do after using your AED during an emergency? Every Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has the ability to record the event that takes place during an emergency. All AEDs store event information and it can be downloaded from the AED for review.

Hopefully at this point your organization has purchased an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to protect your members and staff from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). The possibility of using the AED, while slim, is definitely real. Therefore, it is very important to know how to use the AED and equally as important to know what to do after a usage.

Once an event has occurred, positive or negative, you must download the event data and forward it to the responding Physician and your Medical Director. Currently, every device on the market will record a minimum of 15 minutes of ECG analysis. Furthermore, some devices can record up to 8 hours of ECG or a short duration of both audible and ECG data. To find out your device's capability, consult your user's manual.

To download the event data, you must first have a computer with the appropriate manufacture's software. Most manufactures offer a basic version which can be downloaded for "Free" from the following sites:

• Cardiac Science Rescuelink
  Download link: Must contact Cardiac Science Tech Support to obtain link
• HeartSine EVO Saver Software
  Download Link: http://www.heartsine.com/index.php?page_id=152
• Defibtech Event Review Software
  Download Link: http://www.defibtech.com/downloads_utilities.html
• Physio Control LIFENET DT Express
  Download Link: CD Only, Field Service Rep can perform download for small fee.
• Philips Review Express
  Download Link
• Welch Allyn Smartlink Event Pro Software
  Download Link: Must send device in
• Zoll Rescue Net Code Review
  Download Link: http://www.zolldata.com/web/codeReview.aspx
  

After the software has been downloaded to your computer, the AED must be connected directly to the computer to review the event data. Currently, there are two methods for connecting and accessing this data:

• IRDA Adapter: Adapater connects through the computer's USB and allows the data to be transferred from the AED to the computer by lining up the infarred windows.
  Definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared_Data_Association
  
• Data Cable: Cable connects through the computer's USB port and allows data to be transferred through a direct connection between the AED and the computer.

After a connection has been established, the manufacture's software program should be run to receive "event data" from the AED. After the data is downloaded, it can be emailed or printed depending on the software's capabilities.Finally, after the data download is complete, it is imperative that the pads and/or battery be replaced so the AED can be placed back into service.

Contact HeartSafe America today to find out more about post even reviews and purchasing replacement AED accessories. Our goal is to educate the public about Sudden Cardiac Arrest and how AEDs can help increase the survival rate of SCA.