Comparing vocal and beep alarms in ICU

Aims. Ventilators designed to generate the alarms when patient have any problem. However, these alarms can blend in with other accustomed sounds of the intensive care unit. This study was to improve medical ventilator alarms in ICU by comparing vocal and beep alarms regarding to nurses and physicians opinion. Methods. Studied "vocal alarm" designed in Persian language and put on "Bennet 7200" ventilator. In critical conditions, vocal alarm system using a software microprocessor broadcasted recognized alarms in speech, respectively. 40 questionnaires from nurses, physicians and assistants collected and data analyzed with SPSS 11 software. Results. 22 (54.5%) of attitudes were unsatisfied with this belief that death is more occuring with vocal alarmed ventilator. Response duration for normal beep alarmed ventilators were longer than vocal alarms. Conclusion. The vocal alarms improve patient safety by alerting all medical staff in the ICU of all critical ventilator events. Using vocal alarm system reduces the response duration to alarms of the ventilator events.