Which device is used to analyze heart rhythm and deliver a shock in cases of cardiac arrest in public settings?

Which device is used to analyze heart rhythm and deliver a shock in cases of cardiac arrest in public settings?

• A. Pacemaker
• B. Electrocardiograph
• C. Defibrillator
• D. Automatic External Defibrillator

Answer: (D)

Public-access resuscitation relies on a device that can both analyze the heart’s rhythm and deliver a shock if needed. This is the Automatic External Defibrillator. It’s portable and user-friendly, with pads placed on the chest to assess the rhythm and decide if a shock is appropriate. It guides the responder with voice prompts and only delivers a shock when the rhythm is shockable, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. This makes it suitable for use by bystanders in public settings. By contrast, a pacemaker is implanted to regulate heart rate, an electrocardiograph records electrical activity without delivering a shock, and a defibrillator used in medical settings may require more training and isn’t specifically designed for public use.

Public-access resuscitation relies on a device that can both analyze the heart’s rhythm and deliver a shock if needed. This is the Automatic External Defibrillator. It’s portable and user-friendly, with pads placed on the chest to assess the rhythm and decide if a shock is appropriate. It guides the responder with voice prompts and only delivers a shock when the rhythm is shockable, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. This makes it suitable for use by bystanders in public settings. By contrast, a pacemaker is implanted to regulate heart rate, an electrocardiograph records electrical activity without delivering a shock, and a defibrillator used in medical settings may require more training and isn’t specifically designed for public use.