…..by the machine travels through the heart muscle. The purpose of the shock is to provide the only treatment available to correct a life-threatening heart rhythm.
The heart generates its own electrical supply in order to make the muscles in the heart contract. A change to a person’s normal heart rhythm can sometimes have a catastrophic effect. The most deadly of these rhythm disturbances is Ventricular Fibrillation (or, as you may have heard on tv shows, shortened to VF). The most successful treatment for VF is a shock from a defibrillator. When VF occurs, instead of the heart pumping blood around the body, it quivers like an imaginary sack of wriggling worms. It means that oxygenated blood is no longer being pumped around the body by the heart. As a result, the person collapses, the cessation of breathing and the heart muscle dying.
VF is treatable. Learn more in tomorrows Tip of the Day…..
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Currently, there are temporary changes to the steps to be followed in resuscitation. These can be found in the video below or by clicking here to see the New Zealand Resuscitation Council temporary guideline recommendation.
Click the link to go to the New Zealand Resuscitation Council Covid-19 recommended modifications for delivering resuscitation whilst the pandemic remains a threat. Click play to see a short video outlining CPR modifications that should be followed during the pandemic.
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Acknowledgement
Data and information are fact-checked against various recognised sources, including the New Zealand Resuscitation Council, Health Navigator New Zealand, St John, and other recognised entities specialising in the specific subject content. It should be noted that variances in protocols exist and where necessary are identified.