What equipment is designed to analyze heart rhythm and prompt defibrillation if necessary?

The equipment designed to analyze heart rhythm and prompt defibrillation if necessary is the Automated External Defibrillator (AED). AEDs are critical devices used in cases of sudden cardiac arrest. They automatically evaluate the heart's rhythm and determine if a shock is required to restore a normal heart rhythm. When a person is in cardiac arrest, their heart may be beating erratically or not at all, and the AED plays an essential role in diagnosing this condition quickly.

Upon applying the AED pads to a patient's chest, the device analyzes the heart's electrical activity and provides voice prompts to guide the user through the process. If the diagnosis indicates that a shock is needed, the AED will warn the user and deliver an electrical shock to the heart to potentially reset the rhythm. This feature is essential because timely defibrillation is often critical to increasing the chances of survival following cardiac arrest.

Other equipment listed, such as a bag-valve-mask (BVM), CPR device, and pulse monitor, serve different purposes in emergency care but do not have the capability to analyze heart rhythm independently, nor do they deliver defibrillation. The BVM is designed to provide positive pressure ventilation to a patient, a CPR device assists with chest compressions during resuscitation efforts, and