Defibrillator pads, often simply called "defib pads," are adhesive electrodes that are placed on a person's chest to deliver an electrical shock to the heart when it is not beating effectively.
Understanding Defibrillator Pads
Defib pads play a critical role in emergency medical interventions, particularly during a sudden cardiac arrest. They are designed to provide a conductive interface between a defibrillator device and the patient's skin.
Key Functions
Based on the provided information, the primary functions of defib pads include:
- Adhesive Electrodes: They are sticky pads that adhere securely to the skin, ensuring good contact for electrical conductivity.
- Placement on the Chest: Specific locations on the chest are used to ensure the electrical current passes through the heart.
- Delivering Electrical Shock: Their main purpose is to allow the defibrillator to send an electrical shock to the heart.
- Treating Ineffective Heart Rhythms: The shock is delivered when the heart's rhythm is not effective, such as during ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia.
Defib Pads and AEDs
Defibrillator pads are described as an essential part of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). AEDs are portable devices used by both medical professionals and the public in emergencies. When used with an AED, the pads allow the device to analyze the heart rhythm and, if a shockable rhythm is detected, deliver the necessary electrical current to potentially restore a normal heart rhythm and treat a sudden cardiac arrest emergency.
In essence, defib pads are the crucial connection that allows life-saving electrical therapy to reach the heart during a cardiac emergency.