How does an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) work?
An AED works by first turning the AED unit on and listening to the voice prompts. Place the defibrillator/electrically conductive adhesive pads on a cardiac arrest victim s chest according to the AED instructions/diagram. Placement of the defibrillator pads can vary according to the model of AED. The AED automatically analyzes the victim s heart rhythm and determines when to apply the electrical shock/defibrillate. Semi-automatic AEDs require the lay-rescuer to push the shock button. Fully automatic AEDs will shock without the lay-rescuer having to push the shock button. If the victim is not in a shockable rhythm, the AED should then prompt the lay-rescuer to begin CPR.
