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Defibrillators: one in three are out of service, according to a survey
Defibrillators: one in three are out of service, according to a survey
(France 2)
In the event of a heart attack, there are 500,000 defibrillators installed in public places in France. However, according to a survey by a maintenance company, nearly a third of these machines do not work because the batteries and electrodes must be changed regularly.
Yves Gilles is a miracle. On August 26, 2023, he participated in a football tournament when this mayor of the town of Brimeux (Pas-de-Calais) collapsed on the field. After performing a cardiac massage, the doctors and nurses present will get a defibrillator. “And there, unfortunately, the defibrillator says ‘battery fault’ “, says Yves Gilles. Luckily, a second defibrillator is nearby. But this malfunction is not isolated.
Of more than 6,000 defibrillators analyzed by a maintenance company, a third are out of service due to unreplaced batteries or worn-out electrodes. Bruno-Thomas Lamotte, president of the association for the census and location of defibrillators, explains that the small red and white label is obligatory. It indicates who is responsible for the device, the condition of the electrodes, and the next maintenance. “A lot [de défibrillateurs] do not have this label, because they are poorly monitored”, he relates. In the event of cardiac arrest, the survival rate is 30% if the person is defibrillated, compared to 5% if they are not.
Among our sources:
Matecir Defibril figures – Theme 2, defibrillation 2e part – From 34′ in the video
This item
Survival rate of 30% with defibrillation – Source SAMU
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