Page 40 - EMS CPR Manual V1
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What is defibrillation?
Defibrillation is a process in which an electronic device called a Defibrillator sends an electric shock to the heart in an attempt to stop an extremely rapid or irregular heartbeat and restore the normal heart rhythm.
Abnormal heart rhythms can cause the heart to stop pumping blood effectively, leading to brain damage and/or cardiac arrest. About 10% of the ability to restart the heart is lost with every minute that the heart stays in an irregular rhythm. Death can occur in minutes unless the normal heart rhythm is restored through defibrillation. Defibrillators deliver a brief electric shock to the heart,
which enables the heart's natural pacemaker to regain control and reestablish a normal heart rhythm.
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DEFIBRILLATION
