Wellness: Diseases & Conditions

AEDs: High-Tech Help for Cardiac Arrest


Photo of an AED

Technology has given us the automated external defibrillator (AED), which can be found in schools and public buildings, airports, malls, sports arenas, health clubs, golf courses, and some businesses.


Here are some FAQs to help bring you up to speed.

What is an automated external defibrillator?

An AED is an electronic device about the size of a large laptop computer. Trained emergency personnel or almost anyone else who has undergone training can attach an AED to a cardiac arrest victim, who may need a jolt of electricity to the heart.

Do you need training to use an AED?

No. Most anyone with a medical background can learn to use an AED. Usually, people learn to use an AED in a course that also teaches cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The computerized device will tell a rescuer to push the defibrillate button if the cardiac arrest is from an abnormal heart beat that could respond to a shock (not all rhythms will). This could be either ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. Ventricular fibrillation is the most common heart-rhythm problem in victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

Won't the cost of devices such as AEDs keep them out of most places?


Are AEDs really needed in places other than hospitals?


Is an AED useful for all types of cardiac arrest?


Do AEDs mean CPR is no longer needed?

Absolutely not. The 2 go together. An AED can restore a normal heart rhythm in certain cases; chest compressions in CPR are used to help keep blood flowing through the heart and the body. CPR can double the chances of survival when used right when a person collapses and just before an AED delivers a shock. CPR should be started while someone else gets the AED.

Does research back the community use of AEDs?


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