What is an AED?
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are portable devices, designed for everyone to use in a cardiac emergency.
An AED analyzes a person’s heart rhythm and delivers a shock through the electrode pads if a shockable rhythm is detected. This shock gives the heart a chance to resume its normal, life-sustaining rhythm, and potentially save the life of a person in cardiac arrest. Thanks to built-in audio prompts and easy to follow instructions, even an untrained bystander can use an AED to save a life.
The only effective treatment for out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is access to defibrillation via the AED. Defibrillation delivers an electrical shock that stops the heart from quivering and allows it to regain a normal rhythm. The defibrillator will administer a shock only if the device’s internal technology deems it medically necessary. There is NO reason to hesitate. You cannot hurt someone using an AED.
The time it takes for a bystander or EMS personnel to administer the first defibrillator shock is critical in SCA victim survival. Without immediate access to an AED, a sudden cardiac arrest victim has less than a 10% chance of surviving.
With early CPR and use of an AED, chances of survival can increase to more than 60%.
How do I use an AED?
STEP 1
The first step is to turn on the AED by pressing the “On” button or opening the lid (depends on model).
STEP 2
Once the AED is on, voice prompts will direct you to place the electrodes on the patient’s bare chest.
STEP 3
The device will analyze the patient’s heart rhythm and determine if a shock is needed. The AED will either emit a shock, prompt you to press the shock button, or tell you no shock is advised.
STEP 4
The AED will prompt you back to CPR. It will reanalyze every two minutes. Follow the device’s audio prompts until medical personnel take over the care of the patient. Do not take the electrodes off of the patient, even if the person wakes up.
Access to bystander CPR and early defibrillation via AED saves lives.
Learn CPR and AED. Save a life.
Email info@viaheartproject.org to learn more about how you can save a life.
AEDs in our community help improve survival from SCA.
Communities with AED programs and easy access to CPR training have higher SCA survival rates.
Studies have shown that early CPR and AED use by bystanders can improve outcomes by 60%. “Bystander AED use prior to EMS arrival in shockable-observed-public OHCA was associated with better survival and functional outcomes. Continued emphasis on public AED utilization programs may further improve outcomes of OHCA.” (Pollack et. al., 2019).
When it comes to SCA, time is everything. Every minute that a person in cardiac arrest is waiting for EMS, not receiving CPR or defibrillation, their chance of surviving decreases by around 10%. This means that those who are near the patient have the potential to do life-saving work before even the trained EMS providers, simply due to their proximity and ability to act quickly. If a bystander begins CPR right away, and when an AED is used, the deadly SCA timeline is pushed back and the chance of survival to hospital discharge is significantly increased.