Defibrillator Use and Maintenance in Massachusetts Hospitals and Ambulance Services

摘要

A study of defibrillators and defibrillator users was conducted during 1987. Data were collected on defibrillator use and users in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) units and hospitals. The study consisted of two parts. The first part was directed toward the defibrillator user and the second part consisted of performance testing and an inspection of the defibrillator. The unit test found a 19 percent failure rate with respect to performance to specification; 67 percent of these failures resulted from battery related problems. Similarly, the most frequent reported problems encountered by users were battery related.