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  • Title: Time matters; what is the time in your defibrillator? An observational study in 30 emergency medical service systems.
    Author: Castrén M, Kurola J, Nurmi J, Martikainen M, Vuori A, Silfvast T.
    Journal: Resuscitation; 2005 Mar; 64(3):293-5. PubMed ID: 15733756.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Measuring different intervals during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a key element of resuscitation performance. For accurate time measurements, the internal clocks of automated external defibrillator (AEDs) need to be synchronized with the dispatch centre time. AIM: To determine the present practice of using and synchronizing the AED clocks in five regions in Finland. METHODS: During a single morning, the time of all AED clocks in the emergency medical service (EMS) systems of five large hospital districts were checked and compared with the dispatch centre time. A questionnaire about synchronisation policy and documentation of the first defibrillatory shock was also e-mailed to the local EMS medical supervisors. RESULTS: Eighty-eight AEDs were checked in 30 EMS systems. The mean deviation from dispatch centre time was 412 (+/-1001) s. There was no difference between EMS systems with (N = 7) or without (N = 23) written guidelines regarding synchronisation. Many EMSs reported that they document the time of the first shock without synchronisation of clocks. CONCLUSIONS: Synchronisation of AED clocks is not widespread in Finland. Instructions to synchronize have been issued in a minority of EMS systems. Despite this, time deviations are large, and erroneous times are recorded.
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