Final answer:
Ventricular fibrillation is a life-threatening heart rhythm disturbance that can lead to death if not treated quickly with defibrillation. Defibrillators, including External Automated Defibrillators, can restore organized heart rhythm by providing an electrical shock. These devices are crucial in emergency situations and are widely deployed in public areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ventricular fibrillation is a critical condition characterized by the heart beating in a rapid and erratic manner, preventing effective blood pumping. In such a medical emergency, the most common treatment is defibrillation, which uses a device to apply an electrical charge to the heart. This charge effectively 'resets' the heart, allowing the sinoatrial (SA) node to initiate a normal heartbeat, thereby restoring organized rhythm. External Automatic Defibrillators (EADs) are now widely available in public places and can be operated by nonmedical personnel to save lives in cases of ventricular fibrillation.
During the defibrillation process, very large currents pass through the heart which causes it to contract and temporarily halts both the heart and breathing. Once the shock ends, there is often a resumption of normal heart rhythm and breathing. These currents are also designed to prevent onset of burns during the life-saving procedure. Successfully defibrillated individuals can recover an organized heart rhythm, mitigating the immediate danger of the condition.
Defibrillators come in various forms, such as the external automatic defibrillator for public use, or the more traditional paddles used in hospital settings. Both are designed to address ventricular fibrillation by stopping the heart for a brief moment, with the goal of allowing the heart's natural pacemaker to re-establish a normal rhythm.