The defibrillator can save lives when a person goes into cardiac arrest, especially if it’s administered within two minutes of the patient's heart stopping.
Mary Jo Cagle with
A new study just released by the New England Journal of Medicine shows about one third of cardiac arrest patients that are already in the hospital don't get the shock they need from a defibrillator within that time frame.
Researchers say those who don't get quick defibrillation are more likely to suffer brain damage or even death. The study finds for about thirty percent of people it took nearly six minutes to get the life saving zap.
Mary Jo Cagle at says they have been able to improve their time to 1.05 seconds. Cagle says, "We actually try to recognize patients in the pre-stages when they are getting in trouble prior to those most critical moments."
In the study, the delays were more prevalent at smaller hospitals or for people who were in the hospital after hours or on weekends. Cagle says the study should be a lesson to all medical professionals that being prepared for a cardiac event can mean saving a life instead of an unfortunate death.
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