A defibrillator monitor is an important piece of equipment for EMS and hospitals responding to a patient's sudden cardiac arrest. Through the monitor, medical professionals can keep track of a patient's heartbeat, helping them to diagnose and treat the problem correctly. Most portable defibrillators available to non-medical personnel do not include monitors as they are designed to be easy to use and have an automated electrical impulse system.
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Over 200,000 people die each year from this condition. Cardiac arrest happens when the heart goes into an abnormally fast heart rate and ceases to pump blood effectively through the body. Symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest are a sudden loss of consciousness and a stoppage of normal breathing.
Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, regardless of their age. Many people are familiar with the news stories of young athletes who collapse from sudden cardiac arrest during a game. These stories remind us that heart conditions can happen at any age.
Although many people die each year from cardiac arrest, research shows that up to 50,000 individuals could be saved each year if defibrillation occurred in the first several minutes of cardiac arrest. This has led many schools, businesses, and public places to purchase portable defibrillators. All hospitals and other first responders also have defibrillators on hand.
Defibrillator monitors are used on professional units to help doctors and nurses treat a patient. The monitors record the patient's heart beat, store and transmit that information, and to retrieve past information about the patient's heart rate pattern. The monitor and the defibrillator are often combined in the same unit, making it easy to carry to where it is needed.
While a non-trained individual would not need or understand the information included on a defibrillator monitor, the information is very useful for trained medical professionals. It allows them to better treat and care for individuals experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Since time is of the essence is this situation, being able to monitor the heart's rhythm and find appropriate treatment is of the utmost importance.
A defibrillator monitor is included in many professional models. Portable units that are available to the general public do not generally contain a monitor as most individuals would not understand the information given. If you are buying for a hospital or other first responder situation, you may want to purchase a defibrillator with a monitor for its tracking and data storage capabilities.
