Pacemakers

[Walkin Horse]

I started wearing a life vest two weeks ago while waiting on a pacemaker to be put in on March 25. I've been a welder and pipe fitter for 44 years. The last several I've been the superintendent in the fab shop, so I'm not hand on usually.
Yesterday I held something while a guy tacked it with a tig rig. Several minutes later the alarm went off. I went to the office where I could get to the sensors and readjusted everything. Took several tries but it finally worked. I got home and called ZOLL. They didn't seem to know much about welding but could tell I'd had several sensor issues. I didn't sleep with it last night and this morning I couldn't get it to work. This afternoon I put the electrodes in a new garment belt and two tries it worked.
Has been anyone had any experience with these things? Has anyone welded with one or a pacemaker? I go tomorrow for an echo to see where my ef is. In August it was around 27.

 

[lihpster]

Arc welding with a pacemaker is usually a no-go. The strong magnetic fields affect the pacemaker. Stay away from it.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I second the motion. I had one 5 years back & the doc warned me then No more welding. I was 87 & the doc said the battery was good for 13 years, I said good Doc. I want a recharge when I reach 100.

 

[NYlakesider]

I started wearing a life vest two weeks ago while waiting on a pacemaker to be put in on March 25. I've been a welder and pipe fitter for 44 years. The last several I've been the superintendent in the fab shop, so I'm not hand on usually.
Yesterday I held something while a guy tacked it with a tig rig. Several minutes later the alarm went off. I went to the office where I could get to the sensors and readjusted everything. Took several tries but it finally worked. I got home and called ZOLL. They didn't seem to know much about welding but could tell I'd had several sensor issues. I didn't sleep with it last night and this morning I couldn't get it to work. This afternoon I put the electrodes in a new garment belt and two tries it worked.
Has been anyone had any experience with these things? Has anyone welded with one or a pacemaker? I go tomorrow for an echo to see where my ef is. In August it was around 27.

I'm a retired long time union pipefitter/welder with lots of time welding and being around welding. Some of the people I knew got pacemakers and they were told to now keep away from some welding processes.

A lot of funny things can happen with TIG being used. We had a visit from airport federal authorities because planes coming into the airport were low over our shop and something was making their instruments go crazy on occasion.

Do nor remember all of it now but it was in the defective Hi Freq system so if a plane a few hundred feet above a unit like that could act up think what being next to it could do.

 

[dave1918a2]

Hi freq tig will really mess up a pacemaker. Stay away.

 

[Doug627]

I wore one of those vests for months before getting my defribulator/pacemaker. They do not like vibrations either.

 

[djohns6]

My Cardiologist said that I have a condition that might require a Pacemaker some day . I told him that I worked in high voltage substations every day that contain upwards of 500KV . Some days the static was so bad you jump an arc from your finger tip to the door handle of your truck . I was concerned about the effect of the EMF on a Pacemaker . He told me he didn't have an answer but if it became necessary he would have to consult with the manufacturer . I'm retired now and so far no Pacemaker either .

 

[Walkin Horse]

I wore one of those vests for months before getting my defribulator/pacemaker. They do not like vibrations either.

I found that out today when I left the drs office. I walked briskly down the steps and it went off when I went through the doors.

 

[Walkin Horse]

I'm a retired long time union pipefitter/welder with lots of time welding and being around welding. Some of the people I knew got pacemakers and they were told to now keep away from some welding processes.

A lot of funny things can happen with TIG being used. We had a visit from airport federal authorities because planes coming into the airport were low over our shop and something was making their instruments go crazy on occasion.

Do nor remember all of it now but it was in the defective Hi Freq system so if a plane a few hundred feet above a unit like that could act up think what being next to it could do.

We don't use high frequency in my shop. Everything is mig and flux core or just tig. No heliarc. But I was holding the fitting while it was being tacked.

 

[Walkin Horse]

My Cardiologist said that I have a condition that might require a Pacemaker some day . I told him that I worked in high voltage substations every day that contain upwards of 500KV . Some days the static was so bad you jump an arc from your finger tip to the door handle of your truck . I was concerned about the effect of the EMF on a Pacemaker . He told me he didn't have an answer but if it became necessary he would have to consult with the manufacturer . I'm retired now and so far no Pacemaker either .

I got the same answer. Call 1-800-meditronics after I get back to work. They will come check it.

 

[Skeet 028]

If you have a pacemaker...stay away from welding electrical type anyway. I'm not even supposed to go in a welding shop. But who am I to say. I do like living...and I have seen screwed up pacemakers in the past. My doc asked if I could have an MRI the other day...Boston Scientific said I can under strict limitations...maybe. Think I'll go for a CT scan instead

 

[Jon651]

I started wearing a life vest two weeks ago while waiting on a pacemaker to be put in on March 25. I've been a welder and pipe fitter for 44 years. The last several I've been the superintendent in the fab shop, so I'm not hand on usually.
Yesterday I held something while a guy tacked it with a tig rig. Several minutes later the alarm went off. I went to the office where I could get to the sensors and readjusted everything. Took several tries but it finally worked. I got home and called ZOLL. They didn't seem to know much about welding but could tell I'd had several sensor issues. I didn't sleep with it last night and this morning I couldn't get it to work. This afternoon I put the electrodes in a new garment belt and two tries it worked.
Has been anyone had any experience with these things? Has anyone welded with one or a pacemaker? I go tomorrow for an echo to see where my ef is. In August it was around 27.

I'm on my 3rd pacemaker, although mine have all been Medtronic. I can say that welding (any that use electricity) is very much a no-no with a pacemaker as a general rule. The newer units are shielded and anti-magnetic (my current unit is MRI-Safe), but a Life Vest certainly IS NOT, especially since the leads are all external. Unfortunately, you may have inadvertently fried your vest.

There are several pacemaker manufacturers, but if you wish to continue in a job that routinely exposes you closely to electrical welding then you first must have that conversation with the manufacturer's rep from whichever brand your doctor wants to use. (I originally said "with your cardiologist" but I think the rep would be a better source.)

The last thing is I want to make sure you know that the "Life Vest" is NOT a pacemaker - it is a defibrillator. No, they are not the same thing. However, if you end up receiving an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) instead of or in combination with a pacemaker, then the rules about welding are still the same.

Good luck and feel better!