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Defibrillator installation

IronFreely

Hi, Ive been asked to fit a couple of defibrillators at my local town hall. I dont know why but there’s something in the back of my mind telling me that there may be some specific requirements. I might have a memory of being told once that theres a specific city and guilds AED installation  course but google hasn't given me much there… I had a look through my shiny new brown book but didn't find anything of significance, I like the cover of new book, feels tougher than the previous ones but i did rely like that calming shade of blue.

Im your average qualified sparks who mostly rocks the domestic world and I’m obviously signed up to a scheme and have the usual insurances and qualifications. Any way so, beyond the normal every day rules regarding fault protection, earthing and bonding etc is there anything else anyone would advise me to consider before accepting the job?

One thing I’ve considered is that these things go on an exterior wall and appear to be in metal cabinets, having not yet received the instructions I may find the casing is technically an exposed conductive part and may require earthing so that may bring up the question of exporting PME.  However I have been told by the person booking the work they are rated IP65 and he believes they are class 2/double insulated so that would suggest perhaps the external casing would not require earthing and as you cant plug a lawnmower into it perhaps its not going to be a worry connecting the it to a final circuit on a property with PME. 

Id appreciate some thoughts and advice especially from anyone with experience of fitting them as Ive never been asked before, id rather come on hear and ask a rookie question than make a rookie mistake when by now I should know better! 

Thanks in advance 

still running freely 

Parents
  • 0

    @Chris Pearson  

    I would hope Mrs P will be doing CPR rather than going to the church hall.

      

    These defibrillators won’t start a stopped heart, they look for a heart beat that is irregular and if need be try and get the rhythm back. They won’t shock if there isn’t a irregular heart beat, so they won’t shock if there’s a regular heart beat or if there isn’t a heartbeat at all.

    If the defibrillator advises “No shock continue CPR” just hope there’s at least two people to keep thumping away, because it’s hard work and they could be at it for over a quarter of a hour.

Reply
  • 0

    @Chris Pearson  

    I would hope Mrs P will be doing CPR rather than going to the church hall.

      

    These defibrillators won’t start a stopped heart, they look for a heart beat that is irregular and if need be try and get the rhythm back. They won’t shock if there isn’t a irregular heart beat, so they won’t shock if there’s a regular heart beat or if there isn’t a heartbeat at all.

    If the defibrillator advises “No shock continue CPR” just hope there’s at least two people to keep thumping away, because it’s hard work and they could be at it for over a quarter of a hour.

Children
  • 0 in reply to Sparkingchip
    Sparkingchip said:
    could be at it for over a quarter of a hour

    That's if you are lucky and the ambulances aren't all queuing up outside A&E.

    If you are in asystole - no electrical activity, your chances are grim outside hospital, and not brilliant inside. So I agree, these public defibrillators are for the treatment of ventricular fibrillation and I marvel at the ability of them to make the diagnosis. If I remember my first-aid course correctly, and things have not changed, if the patient is an adult you phone for help first because the most likely treatable cause is VF. If the patient is a child, you crack on with CPR.

    And of course, a shock isn't going to help if there is no blood to go round and round. That may be due to a chainsaw, in which case there might be a clue in the form of lots of red sticky stuff, but if you are a bloke over 65, your abdominal aorta may have burst so the bleeding is internal. The moral of the story there is go for your screening test at 65. And, incidentally, I hope that by then you will have sent in your bowel cancer screening test.

    Prostate next, chaps!!!

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