General therapy warnings and cautions, Therapy – Physio-Control LIFEPAK 15 User Manual

Page 117

THERAPY

LIFEPAK 15 Monitor/Defibrillator Operating Instructions

5-3

General Therapy Warnings and Cautions

WARNINGS

SHOCK HAZARDS

SHOCK HAZARD

The defibrillator delivers up to 360 joules of electrical energy. When discharging the

defibrillator, do not touch the paddle electrode surfaces or disposable therapy

electrodes.

SHOCK HAZARD

If a person is touching the patient, bed, or any conductive material in contact with the

patient during defibrillation, the delivered energy may be partially discharged through

that person. Clear everyone away from contact with the patient, bed, and other

conductive material before discharging the defibrillator.

SHOCK HAZARD

Do not discharge the defibrillator into the open air. To remove an unwanted charge,

change the energy selection, select disarm, or turn off the defibrillator.

BURN AND INEFFECTIVE ENERGY DELIVERY HAZARDS

POSSIBLE FIRE, BURNS, AND INEFFECTIVE ENERGY DELIVERY

Do not discharge standard paddles on top of therapy electrodes or ECG electrodes. Do

not allow standard paddles (or therapy electrodes) to touch each other, ECG

electrodes, lead wires, dressings, transdermal patches, etc. Such contact can cause

electrical arcing and patient skin burns during defibrillation and may divert

defibrillating energy away from the heart muscle.

POSSIBLE SKIN BURNS AND INEFFECTIVE ENERGY DELIVERY

Therapy electrodes that are dried out or damaged may cause electrical arcing and

patient skin burns during defibrillation. Do not use therapy electrodes that have been

removed from foil package for more than 24 hours. Do not use electrodes beyond

Use By date. Check that electrode adhesive is intact and undamaged. Replace adult

therapy electrodes after 50 shocks or pediatric therapy electrodes after 25 shocks.

POSSIBLE SKIN BURNS

During defibrillation or pacing, air pockets between the skin and therapy electrodes

may cause patient skin burns. Apply therapy electrodes so that entire electrode

adheres to skin. Do not reposition the electrodes once applied. If the position must be

changed, remove and replace with new electrodes.