Caroline

[Plymouth84]

Hi everyone my name is Caroline , I am joining this group today as yesterday I had a defibrillator fitted above my rib cage, I have now seen online that this means I will not be able to use an escalator , do you know if this is true please? Please excuse any wrong punctuation not something I've ever been very good with lol

[Heythrop51]

I would very much doubt it as lifts are on cables well away from the motors. A Goggle search did not bring up anything.

[Plymouth84 in reply to Heythrop51]

Thank you but I actually did mean travelers. ☺️

[MDR1]

Hi Caroline. I believe escalators are fine but avoid travelators since they involve strong magnets. I've had an ICD for a few years now and have been using escalators. Other things to avoid are induction hobs and airport security scanners.

[Hanibil]

I agree withMDRI

[devonian186]

Hi Caroline

The modern world is using an increasing amount of magnets, some very strong. here is a recent article

bbc.co.uk/news/business-686...

Some uses are unlikely to affect you, for example wind turbines or phone masts. However Electric vehicles also use them and it might be worth checking this out further to see if it might affect your particular heart device.

[oscar2]

Hi Caroline! My husband has had a defibrillator for a number off years. He has used escalators regularly with no issues. Never heard of this one. 🤔. The only time he has,to be careful is going through the scanners at airport security. He just tells,security he has a defibrillator and they do a pat down check. I agree it's,a good idea to check with your device manufacturer. All the best!

[L8Again]

My wife had a pacemaker fitted last year. She was given the standard BHF booklet on risks. When she asked her cardiologist about induction hubs she was told that she would have to lie across it face down before anything adverse would happen to her pacemaker. At worst, the effect would be similar to a factory reset.

We drive around in an EV and my wife uses her iPad and iPhone as normal. Should there be any impact on her pacemaker she would pick this up on her Apple Watch health app (that is, her heart rate would fall below the minimum setting)

Bear in mind that adjustments to these devices are made via a magnetic wand(loop) placed around the device.

This site has more advice on ICDs and magnet risk:

mayoclinic.org/tests-proced....

[Thumper76]

Hi Caroline and welcome. I was told the same thing as MDR1 Means a long walk at the airport 😅 X

[Digger0 in reply to Thumper76]

Or get a lift on the free transport!

[DW4019]

hi Caroline - I have had an ICD for 20 yrs the only thing I avoid are airport scanners and industrial fuse boards

[Plymouth84 in reply to DW4019]

Thank you