New defibrillators that are easy enough for untrained bystanders to use can dramatically improve the odds for heart attack victims.

But while the devices are common in Seattle and some other large cities -- in airports, malls, stadiums and other busy public places -- there have been few, if any, in the Tri-Cities until recently.

Hanford's changing that.

Contractor Fluor Hanford is installing the automated external defibrillators at plants where security measures can slow paramedics from reaching a heart attack victim.

Other businesses and organizations may follow. The Richland Fire Department has applied for a grant and would like to see the defibrillators in places where many people gather, such as churches and the new Richland Community Center.

Across the nation, victims of sudden cardiac arrest have less than a 1 percent to 5 percent chance of survival because of the time needed to get to a defibrillator. But in Seattle, where defibrillators have been placed across the city, the chance of survival jumps to 29 percent, said Jerry Stevenson, a paramedic and worker at Hanford's Plutonium Finishing Plant.

"There's just a tremendous amount of benefits and no downside," said Steve Gulley, a regional faculty member for the American Heart Association and PFP emergency preparedness coordinator.

In a heart attack, a blood clot destroys a portion of the heart muscle. As cells begin to die, they release electrical impulses that disrupt the heart's beat pattern. The electrical chaos causes the heart to quiver, making it incapable of pumping blood.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation can keep oxygen circulating in the body, preventing some damage. But shocking the heart with a defibrillator is needed to stop the quivering and give the heart a chance to restart with a normal rhythm.

If the heart is shocked within one minute, as many as 80 percent of patients will survive. But the chance of survival decreases 10 percent for each minute defibrillation is delayed. At seven minutes, chances of survival are slim, Stevenson said. Not only is the heart muscle damaged, but also the lack of oxygen harms the brain.

"As a paramedic, I've seen a lot of people get hearts started, but the brain is not intact," Gulley said.

The automated external defibrillators are designed to be easy enough to use by nonprofessionals before paramedics arrive.

In the new Hanford programs, employees are given short training programs. But the defibrillators are designed to be nearly foolproof even without training.

A recorded voice tells the user what to do in a few simple steps.

"Apply pads to patient's bare chest. Plug in connector," the machine says in a slow, clear voice.

Once the pads are on the patient, the machine automatically checks the heart rhythm. It will not shock the patient unless it detects the quivering of sudden cardiac arrest.

It also will automatically check the patient to see if a shock works. If not, it will give step-by-step instructions on how to do it again.

When paramedics arrive, they can pull a data card from the defibrillator that has recorded the heart rhythm to take to the hospital.

"With the new technology, it's not dangerous," Gulley said. "It's very safe to use and saves lives."

Stevenson pushed for the program at PFP because security measures such as coded doors and the six levels in the facility can slow the arrival of paramedics.

With the successful introduction of six defibrillators for PFP and its 550 employees, the program is being expanded to other Hanford work areas. The Fast Flux Test Facility has five automated defibrillators and 72 employees trained to use them. More units have been ordered for the K Basins.

Stevenson and Gulley also have been talking to other contractors about installing defibrillators.

But the future of the devices should extend far beyond Hanford, both in the Tri-Cities and in outlying rural communities without hospitals. As the price of the units falls, more businesses and organizations are expected to install them, allowing some victims to get help sooner.

Fluor spent about $3,000 each for its automated defibrillators, but good models are available for as little as $1,500.