Can US Paramedics not use defibrillators?

[Flyboy]

Just been watching the new episode of Heroes (for the UK that is) and
(VERY minor spoiler)

Spoiler:

Peter is seen performing CPR on a casualty at the scene of an accident.

Now, in my spare time, I'm a volunteer first aider, and whilst I don't have it now, I at some point will have the oppertunity to get defibrillator trained and qualified. I also know that the chances of CPR actually bringing someone back round, unless they're a child or a drowning victim are relatively slim. In fact the reason that CPR is performed is to keep circulation going in some respect to keep oxygen flowing to the brain so that when paramedics with defibs arrive there's a much MUCH greater chance of actually being able to bring them back round.

So my question is this, in the UK, Paramedics and even first aiders can use defibs, so how come it appears that US Paramedics can't?

[silly sally]

Just been watching the new episode of Heroes (for the UK that is) and
(VERY minor spoiler)

Spoiler:

Peter is seen performing CPR on a casualty at the scene of an accident.

Now, in my spare time, I'm a volunteer first aider, and whilst I don't have it now, I at some point will have the oppertunity to get defibrillator trained and qualified. I also know that the chances of CPR actually bringing someone back round, unless they're a child or a drowning victim are relatively slim. In fact the reason that CPR is performed is to keep circulation going in some respect to keep oxygen flowing to the brain so that when paramedics with defibs arrive there's a much MUCH greater chance of actually being able to bring them back round.

So my question is this, in the UK, Paramedics and even first aiders can use defibs, so how come it appears that US Paramedics can't?

AS far as I know they can...

[jelgate]

Speaking as a cousin of a US parmedic they definatly use a defiblirator if its needed.

[Flyboy]

So basically, as with so many things, we have an instance of ignorance of specialist knowledge in a tv show. Awesome.

[jelgate]

So basically, as with so many things, we have an instance of ignorance of specialist knowledge in a tv show. Awesome.

Pretty much. TV shows are rarely if ever accurate in the medical field

[Callista]

They can. I have a friend whose heart stopped. Luckily her husband and daughter were home and saw her fall and the husband started CPR and the daughter called 911. The paramedics took between four and five minutes to get there and they used a defibrillator to get her going again. She was unconscious for a few days (I think it was an induced coma, but I'm not sure about that) and we all thought she was either going to die or have brain damage, but she came back and seems to be fine with her new pacemaker other than a few memory problems.

Also, public places (like airports) often have defibrillators hanging on the walls that anyone can use with easy-to-follow instructions. I think they have a way of telling whether or not a person needs it before it will work to avoid any old schmo shocking the heck out of someone who just plain fainted or something.

[Otera]

Oh, paramedics definitely can use them here. you have to have First Aid and AED certification, but I could use an AED if I needed to. As a summer camp counselor, I have my certification in first aid and AED, so if I, an 18 year old who is not an EMT, can use an AED, there is no possible way that EMTs wouldn't be allowed to use them