Automatic defibrillation for laypersons

It is argued that laypersons who arrive first on the scene of a victim of electric shock have the best opportunity to improve the victim´s survival chances if they have available to them automatic defibrillators to deliver lifesaving care in case of ventricular fibrillation from the electric shock. Automatic defibrillators are external defibrillators that incorporate a heart rhythm analysis system. Some are fully automated whereas others are semiautomated or shock advisory defibrillators. The steps for the operation of all automatic defibrillators are similar: turn on power, attach device to the patient, initiate analysis of the rhythm and deliver shock, if indicated. The author cites evidence that automatic defibrillators in the hands of laypersons have been used to bring back to life one person of three in three known instances of immediate death from electric shock