Originally Posted by
stagger
Defibrillators, however, are not effective for dealing with situations where heart activity has completely stopped (asystole). Although they are always used for this in the movies.
So they are not helpful in all cardiac emergencies.
Even though it is automated if I remember correctly it also shows a basic lead ECG - and that can be quite helpful in certain situations, e.g. to rule out a cardiac cause of some events (as I have experienced myself while attending to an comatous passenger onboard that exact same route - only eastbound).