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AED

Also called: Automatic External Defibrillator, Automatic External Cardioverter

- Summary
- About AEDs
- Using an AED
- AED vs. CPR
- Other types of defibrillators
- Questions for your doctor

Reviewed By:
Sumit Verma, M.D., FACC
Robert I. Hamby, M.D., FACC, FACP
Suneet Mittal, M.D., FACC

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Using an AED

The automatic external defibrillator (AED) operator needs to do only four things:

Turn on the AED
Attach the pads to the patient’s chest
Follow the instructions on the AED readout
Keep bystanders away from the patient (to minimize the risk of accidentally shocking someone)

The AED reads the patient’s heart rhythms to determine if a “treatable rhythm” exists. In general, 80 percent of rhythms occurring at the moment of collapse are treatable, but this is less likely as more time passes. If the patient does not have a “treatable rhythm,” the AED will not discharge the electrical shock.

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Review Date: 02-13-2007

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Heart Health

AED

Test Your Knowledge

Using an AED

Related Health Topics

Advice from Dr. Nancy Snyderman

Living with Ulcerative Colitis