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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
A New Single Chamber Implantable Defibrillator with Atrial Sensing: A Practical Demonstration of Sensing and Ease of Implantation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Limited public ability to recognise and understand the universal sign for automated external defibrillators
Rasmus Aagaard1, Erik Lerkevang Grove2, Ronni Mikkelsen3
1Department of Anaesthesia, Regional Hospital of Randers, Randers, Denmark Research Centre for Emergency Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Objective:
To study if the public is able to recognise and understand the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) sign for automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and to explore how national resuscitation councils have adopted the sign.
Methods:
A survey was conducted among travellers in an international airport serving 21 million passengers annually. Participants were asked to state the meaning of six international safety signs, one of which was the ILCOR AED sign. Also, all national resuscitation councils forming ILCOR were contacted to determine whether they recommend the ILCOR AED sign and the existence of national legislation regarding AED signage.
Results:
In total, 493 travellers (42 nationalities) were included. Correct identification of the ILCOR AED sign was achieved by 39% (95% CI 35% to 43%). Information on AED signage was obtained from 41 of 44 (93%) national resuscitation councils; 26 councils (63%) recommended the use of the ILCOR AED sign. In two countries, the ILCOR AED sign was mandatory by law.
Conclusions:
There is limited public recognition and understanding of the ILCOR AED sign. The ILCOR AED sign is not unanimously recommended by national resuscitation councils worldwide. Initiatives promoting public awareness of AEDs are warranted.
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01:28Electrocardiogram Fundamentals
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a diagnostic tool for identifying cardiac conditions such as arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities, and myocardial ischemia.
Definition
An electrocardiogram (ECG) visualizes the heart's electrical activity by tracing the electrical movement associated with each heartbeat on a graph or monitor. As the heart beats, an electrical wave passes through it, correlating with the cardiac cycle events.
Parts of an ECG
An ECG utilizes electrodes on the skin...