Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs)

In France, each year, between 40,000 and 50,000 people are victims of sudden death, for lack of having benefited at the right time from the intervention of a person who could have saved their life by practicing first aid help and administering an electric shock (defibrillation) while the rescue and emergency medical teams intervene.

As part of the fight against sudden death by cardiac arrest, the Ministry of Health has undertaken, since 2007, actions in favor of the development of the installation of AEDs throughout the territory and their ease of use. access. Law No. 2018-527 of June 28, 2018, passed almost unanimously by the two Assemblies, reinforces this legislative and regulatory framework.

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a medical device that helps resuscitate victims of cardiac arrest. Accompanied by a cardiac massage, the defibrillator contributes to significantly increase the chances of survival.

 

There are two types of AEDs:

– Semi-automatic defibrillators: if the device identifies it as necessary, the shock is delivered when the user presses a button at the request of the device;

– Fully automatic defibrillators: if the device identifies it as necessary, the shock is delivered directly by the device, without user intervention.

 

Whatever the type of AED, thanks to voice assistance the AED user is guided step by step, from the cardiac massage to the placement of the electrodes. It is the AED that makes the diagnosis and decides whether or not to shock. To date, no study indicates that a fully automatic defibrillator would be more suitable for use by a non-physician than a semi-automatic one.

Decree No. 2018-1186 of December 19, 2018, taken pursuant to Law No. 2018-528 of June 28, 2018, specifies the ERPs subject to the obligation to hold an AED, namely:

• From January 1, 2020, ERP categories 1, 2 and 3;
• From January 1, 2021, category 4 ERP;
• From January 1, 2022, certain category 5 ERPs.

Apart from ERPs legally required to equip themselves, anyone is free to install an AED and help save lives!

The first aid worker training allows you to know the emergency gestures and to intervene quickly and effectively in the face of an accident situation.