What is an AED and why are they so important?
An AED is an automated external defibrillator. These are small, portable devices (about the size of a small briefcase or large laptop computer) that are designed to be used by the general public when resuscitating a person in cardiac arrest (no pulse). They rapidly and accurately analyze the need for electrical therapy for a pulseless individual. If the AED determines that an electrical shock is indicated, it will charge itself and then instruct rescuers to deliver a shock. Once a person’s heart stops beating, irreversible brain cell death will begin within only about 4 – 6 minutes. Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation and utilizing an AED can greatly increase the chance that the person will enjoy a complete neurological recovery. For each minute that passes without defibrillation (or the delivery of an electrical shock to a pulseless patient), there is a 10% decrease in that person’s chance for survival. AEDs are currently being placed in public locations so that they can be ra
