How to Use an AED

They are becoming more and more common place. You see them in schools, gyms, airports and health clubs. They are compact, self contained, and can save your life. An AED , Automated External Defibrillator is used to help restore normal heart rhythm in an individual who is suffering a heart attack. They are very similar to the units carried by EMT's and are now required in more and more situations and facilities.

Before using an AED you should be properly trained to do so. Training is normally done in conjunction with CPR training. However, if no trained personal are available and the person has no pulse, you have two options. First, you can do nothing and the person will most certainly die. Second, you can take action and potentially save a life.

In any emergency situation you should first examine the area for risk. Look for dangerous items such as electrical lines, chemicals or an unstable structure. If you are injured you become a second victim rather than a rescuer. Once the scene is considered safe approach the victim and check for a pulse. If you cannot find a pulse, call for help before doing anything else. It is vital you get trained emergency personal on their way as quickly as possible. Once help has been summoned, return to the victim and offer aide.

You should check the airway to be certain the person is not chocking. If an AED is present, but no trained personal is available to operate it, you must make a decision. You should note it is not possible to injury someone with an AED. The unit is designed to be used by amateurs in a crisis situation and the AED takes away any guess work and makes all the decisions. You simply have to design if you want to use the AED, or stand by and hope help arrives in time.

If you chose to use the AED, remove it from its case and open the unit. There should be a simply on/off button. Turn the machine on. At this point you will receive voice commands from the AED telling you exactly what to do. You will first be told to plug in the cables. The cables are attached to the pads and the plug will only fit in one way, so you cannot get it wrong.

You will then be told to attach the pads to the victim. The pads will have a diagram on them showing where to place the pads. The pads must be placed on bare skin, so tear or cut off the persons shirt and any undergarments which are present. Press the pads in firmly in place and wait for the next command.

The next command should tell you to stand clear. At this time do not touch the victim or allow anyone else to touch the victim. The AED will evaluate the victim and will give a new command. It will either tell you to shock the victim, or to say no shock advised. If a shock is needed you will depress the 'shock' button and the AED will give the shock required. If no shock is advised you should attempt CPR until the AED gives another command. The AED will not allow you to administer a shock if it does not tell you it is needed. After a designated period of time the AED will again evaluate the patient and advise you to stand clear. It will then tell you is a shock is advised. This process will continue until emergency personal arrive and take over.

AED's should not be used on a metal surface such as bleachers. It should also not be used in water as the electrical shock intended for the patent can be further dispersed, potentially into other individuals offer aide. If the patient is on a metal surface or in a pool of water they should be moved to a hard dry surface before the AED is used.

It is estimated a person's chance of survival drops 10 percent for every minute that passes without receiving treatment. Allowing five minutes to pass reduces the chance of survival by a minimum of 50 percent. While it is always best to allow trained personal to administer treatment it is not always possible. An AED is designed to be used by amateurs and has safeguards built in to prevent it from being used incorrectly. As with any care given by an un-trained person the decision to provide treatment is totally up to the individual.