The use of electricity in medicine for various purposes goes back as far as the late 1700s. However, because of the lack of scientific understanding of germ theory and other aspects of modern medicine, these early approaches to electricity as a treatment were largely ineffective until doctors and researchers gained a better understanding of the human body. Today, after over 150 years of advancing medical knowledge and electromechanical devices, we utilize electricity in a range of highly effective, well-tested treatments. Internal devices like pacemakers, patient monitors, and even digital thermometers all use electricity to provide reliable healthcare solutions. One of the most essential uses of electricity as a life saver, and one of the oldest, is for defibrillation. Defibrillators function by applying a shock to a patient to reset an abnormal heart rhythm or restart a stopped heart. In cases of cardiac arrest and heart attack, or when other causes of arrhythmia occur, defibrillation is a critical treatment, both in hospitals and other public spaces. For up-to-date courses on the use of defibrillators and other CPR and first aid skills, you can find comprehensive courses for certification through CPR4LIFE USA. We offer CPR/AED classes in Minnesota, including blended learning and healthcare provider courses.
CPR/AED Classes
The modern systems you’ll learn through our CPR/AED classes are designed for easy use and portability, making them an ideal choice for installation in public spaces. Access to these public AEDs with voice-guided operation can increase survival rates by a significant percentage, even compared to chest compressions alone.
First Defibrillators
The first defibrillators used in the field on human patients weren’t implemented until around 1947 to 1950.
1947: During an open-heart surgery, manual heart massage failed to correct the ventricular fibrillation of 14-year-old Richard Heyard. Dr. Claude Beck applied four 110-volt shocks to the patient’s heart, restoring its rhythm and saving his life.
1957–1961: Dr. William Kouwenhoven finished the first portable, closed-heart defibrillator. It weighed 250 pounds and would safely apply 480-volt shocks to an adult heart. By 1961, Kouwenhoven and his team had developed a much more portable 45-lb version.
1965–1968: Dr. Frank Pantridge developed an ambulance-carried defibrillator in 1965 that weighed around 150 lbs. and was powered through car batteries. By 1968, he had improved his designs to create what’s considered the first portable AED. It weighed around 7 pounds and used a small NASA-designed capacitor for power.
1978–Present: Over the next 50 years, the portable AED became more efficient and more available to the public. The first AED that was available on the commercial market and that laypeople could use was the “Heart-Aid” design. Most devices today weigh under 3 lbs, assess heart rhythms, and coach operators through the steps of safely applying a shock.
Summary
To learn more about the great value of the modern AED and how to provide other lifesaving treatments, contact CPR4LIFE USA at (507) 369-6422 or info@cpr4lifeusa.com. Check out available CPR/AED classes in Minnesota today.
