Aed
Aed
Aed (pronounced: /eɪd/) is a term used in the medical field, particularly in the context of emergency medical services. It stands for Automated External Defibrillator, a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and can treat them through defibrillation.
Etymology
The term "Aed" is an acronym derived from the English words "Automated", "External", and "Defibrillator". The word "defibrillator" itself comes from the Latin "de-" meaning "do the opposite of" and "fibrilla" meaning "small fiber". In this context, it refers to the device's ability to stop fibrillation, or irregular contractions, of the heart muscles.
Related Terms
- Defibrillation: The therapeutic use of electric shock to the heart to restore normal rhythm.
- Cardiac Arrhythmia: A group of conditions in which the heartbeat is irregular, too fast, or too slow.
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): An emergency procedure that combines chest compressions often with artificial ventilation in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest.
- Ventricular Fibrillation: A condition in which there is uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle of the ventricles in the heart, making them quiver rather than contract properly.
Usage
An Aed is used in cases of life-threatening cardiac emergencies. It has the ability to check a person's heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm. Aeds are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest, a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.
See Also
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