AED quick facts The Cardiac Chain of Survival
• Early recognition of the emergency and early access to EMS
• Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Early defibrillation
• Early advanced medical care
Early CPR can help a cardiac arrest victim, but an electrical shock (defibrillation) is needed to correct the problem. The sooner the shock is administered, the greater the victim’s chance of survival. Each minute defibrillation is delayed reduces the victim's chance of survival by about 10 percent.
Disease or injury can disrupt the heart’s electrical system.
Defibrillation is intended to disrupt the abnormal activity of the heart.
V-tach and V-fib are two of the most common treatable abnormal heart rhythms.
Cardiac arrests can also occur in children.
steps to use an AED
Turn on the AED.
Wipe the victim’s chest dry.
Attach the pads (use adult pads for adults, pediatric pads for children, never switch them).
On an adult, place one pad on the victim's upper right chest and the other on the victim's lower left side.
These pads are on backwards:
Remember, when you are facing a victim, your right is opposite their right side.
On a child, make sure pads are not touching. If the pads risk touching each other on a child, place one on the child's chest and the other pad on the child's back (between the shoulder blades).
Plug the connector into the AED, if necessary.
Make sure no one, including you, is touching the victim. Look to see that you, the person who is helping you and every bystander is not touching the victim. Tell everyone the stand clear.
Push the 'analyze' button if necessary. Let the AED analyze.
If a shock is advised, push the 'shock' button. Look again to be sure no one is touching the victim and tell everyone again to stand clear.
 
After the shock, or if no shock is indicated, give 5 cycles of CPR (about 2 minutes) before analyzing the heart rhythm again.
(In a real emergency, if your AED device has not been updated, follow the AED prompts when giving care, even if they are different from those above.)
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see also:
What the AED says as you use it
Bloodborne Pathogens quick facts
Oxygen administration quick facts
CPR quick facts
Common mistakes in Professional Rescuer CPR skills
Common mistakes in professional rescuer CPR skills - Lifeguard Training
How to pass a Red Cross written test
First Aid for Public Safety Personnel study guide
Simple secondary survey study sheet
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