patients in cardiopulmonary arrest, including providing basic life support, patient monitoring, arrhythmia interpretation, defibrillation, intubation, and administration of intravenous drugs. ACLS is the fourth link in the Cardiac Chain of Survival.

Arrhythmia: Abnormal electrical activity of the heart. Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) is a type of arrhythmia most commonly associated with the onset of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED): See defibrillator.

Biphasic Waveform: Pattern of electrical flow where the current reverses direction in the middle of the waveform, flowing first from one electrode pad through the heart to the second electrode pad, and then from the second pad through the heart back to the first. A biphasic waveform requires less energy than the monophasic waveform to achieve superior defibrillation efficacy. AEDs using biphasic defibrillation, such as the MomsTeam-approved defibtech Lifeline AED are extremely effective at defibrillating patients in Ventricular Fibrillation and are now considered the standard of care and treatment of choice for Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): The second link in the Cardiac Chain of Survival used to keep oxygenated blood flowing to vital organs until definitive intervention can be instituted. Steps include airway management, mouth-to-mouth or mask ventilation, and external chest compressions. The American Heart Association's CPR Guidelines were recently updated

Chain of Survival: The chain of action that the American Heart Association-recommends be followed in treating a person who suffers sudden cardiac arrest to increase the chances of survival. The system includes four steps or links: early access to an emergency medical system (calling 911), early CPR, early defibrillation with an AED, and early advanced cardiac life support. Any break in this chain can compromise survival. For a more complete description of the Cardiac Chain of Survival, click here.

Community Access Defibrillation Program (CAD): A comprehensive community-based defibrillator program managed by community leaders. CAD programs entail broad, strategic defibrillator placement throughout a city or county to ensure that defibrillation therapy is readily available in the event of a cardiac emergency. A vital component of a successful CAD program includes broad-based training.

Defibrillation: The delivery of an electrical shock to the heart to treat the arrhythmias most commonly associated with Sudden Cardiac Arrest by attempting to restore normal heart rhythm.

Defibrillator: A device that can deliver electrical current to the heart to treat arrhythmias. Many are portable and have electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring capacity.

Manual defibrillators require the operator to read and interpret the ECG tracing, and may require specific steps to program and administer the electric shock.

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are portable devices containing sophisticated, computerized electronics to monitor and identify cardiac rhythm, which make it possible for lay rescuers to deliver defibrillation with little training. The AED will only permit the operator to deliver the shock if ventricular fibrillation or certain ventricular tachycardias are detected. The new AED's are safe, effective, lightweight, low maintenance, easy to use and relatively inexpensive (the MomsTeam-approved defibtech Lifeline AED available through the MomsTeam AED Store starts at just $1,495.00, considerably less than most other models.

Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG): A graphical representation of electrical impulses produced by the heart.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS): The organization providing emergency medical care to a community's citizens. An EMS system may include a notification system (e.g., 911), paramedics, EMTs (emergency medical technicians) and fire, police or ambulance personnel.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): A medical professional certified in basic emergency care, typically after having received approximately 110 hours of training. An EMT provides basic life support with techniques including CPR and defibrillation with an AED.

External Defibrillation: Defibrillation current delivered to the heart by means of electrodes attached to the chest.

Good Samaritan Laws: Laws granting limited protection to persons who, in good faith, give first aid or emergency assistance at the scene of an accident. All 50 states have enacted Good Samaritan laws to protect citizens that provide emergency medical assistance to victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest with the use of a defibrillator. For a state-by-state listing of laws click here.

Heart Attack: Sudden death of a portion of the heart muscle caused by a sudden decrease in blood supply to that area. A heart attack is also referred to as a myocardial infarction or "MI." A heart attack may lead to Sudden Cardiac Arrest but the symptoms, causes and treatment are different.

Monophasic Waveform: Pattern of electrical flow where the current, throughout the pulse, flows in one direction, from one electrode pad, through the heart to the other electrode pad.

Paramedic: A medical professional trained to evaluate and provide treatment for a wide variety of medical emergencies. A paramedic initially receives between 800 and 2,000 hours of training and is qualified to treat Sudden Cardiac Arrest with defibrillation and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

Public Access Defibrillation: Public access to timely defibrillation through the widespread deployment of defibrillators in public places.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA): Precipitous loss of effective pulse and blood pressure usually due to cardiac arrhythmia, primarily ventricular fibrillation.

Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD): Death resulting from an abrupt loss of heart function (cardiac arrest). According to the American Heart Association, over 250,000 people die each year from cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest patients are twice as likely to survive in places where defibrillators are publicly available and volunteers have been trained to use them.

Ventricular Fibrillation: A chaotic arrhythmia that causes the heart to quiver rather than contract in a coordinated fashion. A victim in VF has no effective pulse or blood pressure, loses consciousness almost immediately. Death follows within minutes if a normal heart rhythm is not restored through defibrillation.

Article Updated: July 6, 2006
Published March 4, 2004

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