People are reluctant to use public defibrillators to treat cardiac arrests

A study led the by the University of Warwick suggests that people are reluctant to use public access defibrillators to treat cardiac arrests because they don’t know what they are, how to use them or where to find them. It also suggests that organisations don’t feel they should have one, or feel unable to obtain one.

This analysis of existing international studies, which has been published in the European Heart Journal – Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes, suggests that there are a number of factors that prevent members of the public from using them and potentially saving lives.

The researchers’ study suggests that many members of the public don’t know what an automated external defibrillator (AED) is, where to find one and how to use one. Despite AEDs being suitable for use by untrained members of the public many people are unwilling to use an AED due to a lack of confidence and fear of harming the patient.

“We would also like to see the message put out that these devices can be used without training. However our study found that those with training were more likely to use an AED so training is important too.” *

You can read more about this work by following this link:

https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/people_are_reluctant/

* On the courses that CPR Counts run the use of AEDs is covered.