Medicine in Hollywood – myths & clichés

When Hollywood meddles with medicine & first aid : the real truthWho has never heard “3, 2, 1 … Shock!” in shows like ER, Grey’s Anatomy or Dr. House?Suspense, emotions and sometimes (very) complicated medical terms, Hollywood knows how to keep us hanging until the next episode.Entertaining the audience, but neglecting its’ education?From a strictly cinematographic point of view, we must …

AEDs : how it all started

Throughout the years, medicine has made a great deal of progress.We are very far from certain techniques used by doctors in the past to try to resuscitate individuals: jet of cold water in the face, red iron on the thorax (ouch), flogging of the soles and the list goes on …As many tests that allowed inventors and researchers of the …

Defibrillation : concept & explanations

Made out of 2 independent parts, the heart assures a pumping function.In order for the blood to circulate effectively through the body, the myocardium, the heart’s muscular fiber, contracts according to electrical signals.A sudden cardiac arrest can occur at any time and in most cases without prior warning.During a cardiac arrest, the electrical pulses are disordered, no longer allow the heart …

Defibrillation Electrodes

All you need to know on defibrillation electrodesDefibrillation consists in an electrical current passing through the myocard – the heart muscle tissue – to get it back to its normal rhythm. An essential step in helping a sudden cardiac arrest victim.As the main accessories of AEDs, defibrillation electrodes have several functions:They are the point of contact between the AED and …

An AED for your business?

Since the 2016 regulatory statement, some establishments must be equipped with a defibrillator. Are you concerned?In France, since the May 4, 2007 decree, anyone, even without training, is allowed to use a semi-automatic defibrillator  or a fully automatic defibrillator (AED).Cardiovascular accidents are the leading cause of death in France. By intervening quickly, it is possible to increase the survivability of …

What is an IP rating?

The Ingress Protection (IP): an important criterion when choosing a defibrillatorAutomated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are medical devices that require very specific technological know-how in order to optimize their use as well as their reliability over time.Depending on the environment in which the AED is placed, it is necessary to ensure its proper functioning. Whether indoors or outdoors, the IP of …

Don’t confuse a cardiac arrest and a heart attack !

Get to know the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest to help victimsThe terms “heart attack” and “sudden cardiac arrest” are often confused. These cardio-vascular problems can occur at home, at work, during physical activities without any warning signs.Over 350 000 cardiac arrests occur in Europe every year*.It can be really useful to learn the difference between …