Final answer:
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AED) are two life-saving procedures used in case of cardiac arrest. They help maintain blood circulation, especially to the brain, until the heart starts beating on its own or the patient is treated by a healthcare professional. Proper training in CPR is crucial to avoid harm.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jason Turner suffered from cardiac arrest and the paramedics saved his life by using cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR involves manually applying pressure with the flat part of one hand on the sternum, between the line at T4 and T9, to compress the heart and help circulate the blood within it to the pulmonary and systemic circuits. This is crucial, especially for the brain where irreversible neuron damage and death occur within just minutes of loss of blood flow.
Current guidelines recommend a chest compression at least 5 cm deep and at a frequency of 100 compressions per minute. Overzealous or improperly trained individuals may cause harm, including broken ribs or even fatal damage, so it's critical to be properly trained. This life-sustaining technique is so valuable that medical professionals and the public should be certified and recertified in its use.
In some cases, an automated external defibrillator (AED) can also be used to correct abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) by applying a large shock of electrical energy to terminate it and allow the natural pacemaker to function normally. AEDs are portable and can be used by laypersons, with the device automatically diagnosing the heart rhythm and administering the shock with the appropriate energy and waveform. Prior to using an AED, CPR is typically recommended.
Learn more about CPR and AED