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Automated external defibrillators on board merchant vessels? Preliminary report article for discussion

Birger Neubauer1, Walter G Green

  • 1See-Berufsgenossenschaft, Reimerswiete 2, D-20457 Hamburg, Germany. Birger.Neubauer@See-BG.de

International Maritime Health
|March 15, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are suitable for merchant vessels, with seafarers handling them correctly. However, data transmission requires standardized software and smaller file sizes for effective use at sea.

Area of Science:

  • Maritime Medicine
  • Emergency Medical Devices
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Acute heart diseases are a leading cause of death on merchant vessels.
  • Current treatments for ventricular fibrillation at sea are insufficient.
  • Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are a potential solution for onboard emergency cardiac care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the suitability of common automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for use on merchant vessels.
  • To assess seafarers' ability to handle AEDs in simulated maritime emergencies.
  • To test AED performance and data transmission capabilities under shipboard conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Nine seafarers were trained on four common AED models using video presentations.
  • AED handling was tested in simulated emergencies, with subjective ratings collected.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) data were recorded under engine room vibrations and transmitted via satellite.

Main Results:

  • All seafarers successfully operated the AEDs, rating them highly.
  • AEDs successfully registered ECGs even with significant shipboard vibrations.
  • ECG data transmission via satellite was limited by file size and software compatibility issues.

Conclusions:

  • AEDs are a viable option for treating ventricular fibrillation on merchant vessels.
  • User-friendly AEDs with clear feedback mechanisms are preferred.
  • Improvements in data transmission protocols, including software standardization and file size limitations, are crucial for effective remote medical support.
Abstract

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