ASTM_F_1255_-_90_2008.pdf

Designation:F125590(Reapproved 2008)Standard Practice forPerformance of Prehospital Automated Defibrillation1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1255;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This practice covers guidelines for the performance ofautomated defibrillation.1.2 This practice is one in a set of performance guidelinesfor prehospital defibrillation.1.3 This practice is specifically not meant to deal withequipment specifications,quality assurance,or training.1.4 This practice is limited to external defibrillators used inthe prehospital setting.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F1149 Practice for Qualifications,Responsibilities,and Au-thority of Individuals and Institutions Providing MedicalDirection of Emergency Medical ServicesF1177 Terminology Relating to Emergency Medical Ser-vices2.2 American Heart Association Document:National Standards and Guidelines for CardiopulmonaryResuscitation(CPR)and Emergency Cardiac Care(ECC),American Heart Association(Current Edition)33.Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 automated defibrillatoran automatic or semi-automatic device,or both,capable of rhythm analysis anddefibrillation after electronically detecting the presence ofventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.3.1.2 basic life support/cardiopulmonary resuscitation(BLS/CPR)a set of skills that includes airway management,chest compressions,and others defined by the American HeartAssociation.3.1.3 defibrillationthe discharge of an electrical currentthrough the heart for the purpose of restoring a perfusingcardiac rhythm.For the purpose of this practice,defibrillationmay include cardioversion.3.1.4 operatoras outlined in this practice,a person whohas successfully completed a course of training and may treatprehospital cardiac arrest with an automatic or semi-automaticdefibrillator.Legal functioning as an operator will be basedupon licensure or certification requirements,or both,as estab-lished by the authority or authorities having jurisdiction.3.1.5 protocolsSee Terminology F1177.3.1.6 service medical directorthe physician who ismedico-legally responsible for the patient care provided by theoperator(Practice F1149).3.1.7 standing ordersSee Terminology F1177.4.Significance and Use4.1 This practice establishes minimum guidelines for pre-hospital automated defibrillation.4.2 This practice does not preclude the use of automateddefibrillators as prescribed by a licensed physician.4.3 All persons who are identified as prehospital automateddefibrillation operators shall meet the requirements of thispractice.4.4 Using this practice,emergency medical serviceinstitutions,organizations,and certification/licensing agenciesshould be able to develop standards for the certification/licensing and practice of the prehospital automated defibrilla-tion operator.5.Guidelines for Prehospital Automated Defibrillation5.1 The operator shall be familiar with all operations of theautomated defibrillator.5.2 The operator shall be capable of performing prehospitaldefibrillation in accordance with standing orders,protocols1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F30 on EmergencyMedical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.02 onPersonnel,Training and Education.Current edition approved Feb.1,2008.Published March 2008.Originallyapproved in 1990.Last previous edition approved in 2002 as F1255 90(2002).DOI:10.1520/F1255-90R08.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from American Heart Association(AHA),7272 Greenville Ave.,Dallas,TX 75231,http:/www.americanheart.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 developed,approval by the service medical director or othermedical authority or authorities having jurisdiction,or acombination thereof.5.3 The operator shall be capable of recognizing a patientwho is unresponsive,apneic and pulseless.5.4 The operator shall be capable of preparing the auto-mated defibrillator for operational use.5.5 The operator shall be capable of applying and activatingthe automated defibrillator according to the manufacturersrecommendations and standing orders/protocols.5.6 The operator shall ensure that no one