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July/September 2003 � Volume 7 � Number 3 Original Articles The safe use of automated external defibrillators in a wet environment Tom Lyster, MS [MEDLINE LOOKUP] Dawn Jorgenson, PhD [MEDLINE LOOKUP] Carl Morgan, MS [MEDLINE LOOKUP] Sections Abstract There has been concern regarding potential shock hazards for rescuers or bystanders when a defibrillator is used in a wet environment and the recommended safety procedure, moving the patient to a dry area, is not followed. Objective. To measure the electrical potentials associated with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a realistically modeled wet environment. Methods. A raw processed turkey was used as a patient surrogate. The turkey was placed on a cement floor while pool water was applied to the surrounding area. To simulate a rescuer or bystander in the vicinity of a patient, a custom sense probe was constructed. Defibrillation shocks were delivered to the turkey and the probe was used to measure the voltage an operator/bystander would receive at different points surrounding the surrogate. The test was repeated with salt water. Results. The maximum voltage occurred approximately 15 cm from the simulated patient and measured 14 V peak (current 14 mA peak) in the case of pool water, and 30 V peak (current 30 mA peak) in the case of salt water. Conclusions. Thirty volts may result in some minor sensation by the operator or bystander, but is considered unlikely to be hazardous under these circumstances. The maximum currents were lower than allowed by safety standards. Although defibrillation in a wet environment is not recommended practice, our simulation of a patient and a rescuer/bystander in a wet environment did not show significant risk should circumstances demand it. PREHOSPITAL EMERGENCY CARE 2003;7:307-311 References 1. Marenco JP, Wang PJ, Link MS, Homound MK, Estes NAM. Improving survival from sudden cardiac arrest, the role of the automated external defibrillator. JAMA. 2001;285:1193-200. MEDLINE 2. Gibbs W, Eisenberg M, Damon SK. Dangers of defibrillation: injuries to emergency personnel during patient resuscitation. Am J Emerg Med. 1990;8:101-4. MEDLINE 3. Miller LV, Brennan R. Cardiac defibrillator use in potentially hazardous situations. Biomed Sci Instrum. 1982;18:87-90. MEDLINE 4. Dedrick DK, Darga A, Landis D, Burney RE. Defibrillation safety in emergency helicopter transport. Ann Emerg Med. 1989;18:69-71. MEDLINE 5. Line-powered defibrillators. Health Dev. 1983;12:298. 6. Poole JE, White RD, Kanz K, et al. Low-energy impedance-compensating biphasic waveforms terminate ventricular fibrillation at high rates in victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 1997; 8:1373-85. MEDLINE 7. Olson WH. Electrical Safety. In: Webster JG (ed). Medical Instrumentation Application and Design. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1978. Publishing and Reprint Information � Received November 27, 2002. � From Philips Medical Systems, Seattle, Washington (TL, DJ, CM). � Revision received March 11, 2003. � Accepted for publication March 11, 2003. � Supported by Philips Medical Systems, Seattle, WA. � Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Tom Lyster, MS, Philips Medical Systems, 2301 5th Avenue, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98121. e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] . TEXTE Complet � : http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?action=logout&id=prehos http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?action=searchDB&searchDBfor=iss&id=jprehos0300703 http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?action=searchDB&searchDBfor=art&artType=full&id=aprehos0070307 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com --- URG-L Pour quitter URG-L, envoyez un message a la liste ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) avec, COMME SUJET, le mot REMOVE (rien d'autre).
