By Devon Lee / Staff writer

Defibrillator machines, also known as Automated External Defibrillators (AED), around MVC are able to shock human hearts back to life if students or staff are in a serious health emergency.

With several things occurring at once at MVC, busy students and staff have seven areas to be aware of that have AED machines. 

An email from the MVC campus nurse informed students and staff that the AEDs can be found in Malcolm, Ferguson, the Science Center, Baity, Tech Center, Library, and Morrison buildings on campus.

MVC Biology Professor Sarah MacDonald, who also has a background in plants and genetic engineering shared how she understood the use of an AED machine.

“They’re designed to fix abnormal heart rhythm,” she said.

According to the Food and Drug Administration’s website: “AEDs are portable, life-saving devices designed to treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, a medical condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.” 

The defibrillator is able to have life-saving power with the help of a few things.

According to the FDA, the AED system includes accessories, such as a battery and pad electrodes, that are necessary for the AED to detect and interpret an electrocardiogram of the heart and deliver an electrical shock when required.

There are two main types of AEDs that we could encounter: public access and professional use. In the case of MVC, our campus has public access defibrillators.

According to the FDA, “Public access AEDs can be found in airports, community centers, schools, government buildings, hospitals, and other public locations.” 

They also mention that trained individuals are the ones that should be using the defibrillators if they need to be used.

According to the American Red Cross, AED machines are used to prevent deaths from sudden cardiac arrest.

“Sudden cardiac arrest is among the leading causes of death in the United States,” the Red Cross website states. “In fact, more than 350,000 people will suffer a cardiac arrest this year. Currently, the only way to restore a regular heart rhythm during cardiac arrest is to use an AED.”

The Red Cross isn’t the only source that discussed defibrillators. Osha.gov provided another type of statistic about the use of an AED.

In their overview of defibrillators on their website, Osha.gov said, “Chances of survival from sudden cardiac death diminish by seven to ten percent for each minute without immediate CPR or defibrillation.”

Based on those statistics AEDs are needed to keep students and staff safe. Noah Dalle, a Marketing major at MVC provided his views about defibrillators around campus.

MVC has a few areas with defibrillators, but every building does not have one. Dalle believes that needs to be different.

To support his claim Dalle said, “A few more defibrillators might help, 7 areas is not enough.”

Next, Dalle gave his view about the amount of electricity in these defibrillators. According to AEDbrands.com, Joules are the energy inside of the electric shock and 200 Joules or less save most individuals.

Dalle said, “200 Joules is not a lot if the person needs it.”

MVC students and staff are able to know that in a serious health emergency involving the heart, defibrillators having 200 Joules of electricity are able to revive individuals, rest in labeled white cases at certain locations of our campus.