A defibrillator circuit plays an essential role in resuscitating a person by using defibrillators. A defibrillator is essentially a battery that powers an electric shock to stabilize irregular heartbeats. Though the battery actually contains the energy that powers the shock, the defibrillator circuit takes the energy from the battery so it can be used.
The defibrillator circuit stores the energy and waits until the energy is called for. Then, the energy travels through chords that are connected to the chest pads. These chest pads have handles and are placed in two opposing places on a person's chest to deliver a shock. Sometimes more than one shock needs to be administered before the person regains consciousness and their heartbeat gets back on track.
When Should I Use a Defibrillator?
If you're lucky, you'll never have to use a defibrillator or have one used on you. These devices are only used when a person has experienced some kind of trauma, usually a heart attack, and their heartbeats are abnormal.
A heart attack patient's heartbeat will increase rapidly, restricting blood flow to and from the heart. This becomes dangerous very quickly. When vital organs don't receive enough blood or oxygen, they start to shutdown. If they shutdown for too long, their organs may be seriously damaged. A person who is not resuscitated quick enough or experiences a failed resuscitation can experience organ failure and even death.
If you're in a situation where someone collapses and becomes unconscious, you might need to use a defibrillator. Before you even consider using a defibrillator, call 9-1-1 or ask someone to do it for you. Even if you do find a defibrillator it is absolutely critical that an emergency team arrive at the scene as soon as possible.
Thanks to their life saving value, defibrillators are starting to make an appearance in public areas such as pools and airports. If you see one of these (they're usually hanging on a wall), grab it and get to work. Defibrillators that are placed in public spaces are easy to use and tend to include audio tutorials that give step-by-step instructions on how to use the device.
Defibrillators Can't Do it All
Defibrillators have saved a lot of lives, but they're not infallible. They can fail. If any one part of the defibrillator fails, the shock will not be delivered to the patient. For example, if the defibrillator circuit is faulty, the energy may not be carried through the chords to the pads.
Keep in mind that these systems are tested and scrutinized before they're put on the market. All parts of the defibrillator, including the defibrillator circuit, are tested. These machines are pretty reliable and can save a person's life.
