In recent years, defibrillators have become increasingly common in public spaces like soccer fields, malls, schools, and arenas. At Osler hospitals, there are two types of defibrillators: those used on code carts and automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are typically found in public settings.

When a Code Blue is called, it indicates that a person aged 18 or over has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, which is the unexpected loss of heart function. Signs of cardiac arrest include absence of breathing or only gasping, no movement, and no pulse.

A Code Blue team, composed of physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists, springs into immediate action. Code Blue carts must be prepped and ready to help the medical team resuscitate patients within minutes during life-threatening emergencies.

Code Blues typically occur in inpatient areas of the hospital. You may also hear a Code Pink, which indicates sudden cardiac arrest in a patient under the age of 18. This often occurs in areas such as the neonatal intensive care unit or paediatrics, and the defibrillator’s paediatric setting is used.

Defibrillators on code carts offer both manual and automatic extenal defibrillation (AED) modes. Both modes help deliver fast and reliable shocks to patients. The combined hardware and software system assists the code team in interpreting heart arrhythmias, monitoring the patient’s condition, and assessing the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

In other areas of the hospital, AEDs are available to support first responders outside of the code teams. These small, portable devices can identify heart rhythms and determine whether a shock is needed to correct abnormal electrical activity in the heart.

These computerized units feature sophisticated electronics and use voice or screen prompts to guide the rescuer. They may be semi-automatic or automatic, either requiring the use of a shock button or automatically delivering a shock when needed.

With the immediate use of CPR and defibrillation, a patient’s chances of surviving sudden cardiac arrest are substantially improved. CPR helps maintain oxygen and blood flow for a short period, while a defibrillator corrects an abnormal heart rhythm.

Like all hospital equipment, defibrillators are funded by the public, and Osler relies on donors to ensure code teams and other first responders have the equipment they need to save lives. Donate today—your gift can make a difference in someone’s life.