Enhanced CPR protector system
Apparatus is provided for treatment of a victim to reverse cardiac arrest by chest compression and by electrical defibrillation through electrodes applied to the chest area of the victim. The apparatus includes a dielectric layer which is placed on the victim to electrically isolate the rescuer who is performing chest compressions. The protective sheet includes a layer of electrically conductive material sandwiched between two dielectric layers to electrically isolate the rescuer. The sandwiched conductive layer is connected to a location on the body of the victim that is spaced a plurality of inches from each of the electrodes.
1. A kit for use by a rescuer who applies chest compressions to a victim that has cardiac arrest symptoms treatable by use of a defibrillator, comprising:
a protector sheet which has upper and lower faces and which resists the passage of current between said faces, said protector sheet being constructed to cover a chest area of the victim with the lower face resting directly against the victim and the upper face accessible to be pressed down by the rescuer;
said sheet having upper and lower dielectric layers forming said upper and lower faces and said sheet having a conductive layer of electrically conductive material lying between the dielectric layers;
said conductive layer occupying a majority of the area of said protector sheet upper face;
a connector extending from said conductive layer and having a termination part adapted for connecting to a potential source;
a pair of electrodes; and
a defibrillator connected to said pair of electrodes with said pair of electrodes constructed so they can be placed against the skin of the victim.
2. Apparatus for use by a rescuer at a site where a victim with skin and a chest has cardiac arrest symptoms and is being treated by a defibrillator connected to electrodes lying against spaced electrode locations on the victim's chest, where the rescuer can press repeatedly against the middle of the victim's chest, the improvement comprising:
a protective sheet which includes upper and lower dielectric layers and a conductive layer between said dielectric layers, said lower dielectric layer having a lower face adapted to lie against the victim's chest and said upper dielectric layer having an upper face adapted to be repeatedly pressed down by the rescuer, said conductive layer having an area more than half the area of said upper face;
a connector which includes a conductor having an inner end connected to said conductive layer and an outer end adapted to connect to the skin of the patient;
a quantity of conductive adhesive lying on said conductor outer end and adapted to connect to the victim's skin.
3. A method for treating a victim that has a chest and that has cardiac arrest symptoms that are treatable by the use of a defibrillator, comprising:
connecting a pair of defibrillator electrodes of a defibrillator to the skin of the victim;
placing a protector sheet that has upper and lower dielectric layers forming upper and lower faces of the protector sheet, and having a conductive layer between the dielectric layers, against the victim so said lower face of the protective sheet lies against the chest of the victim and said upper face of the protective sheet is accessible to be pressed down by the rescuer;
electrically connecting said conductive layer to the skin of the victim at a location that is spaced at least 1.5 inches from the nearest one of said defibrillator electrodes;
repeatedly pressing down against said upper face of the protective sheet to produce chest compressions of the victim, and operating said defibrillator to apply electrical pulses to said defibrillator electrodes while conducting said step of repeatedly pressing down against said upper face of the protective sheet.