Category: Using AEDs

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An automated external defibrillator (AED) is designed to analyze the heart and, if a shockable rhythm is present, deliver a shock to a victim of cardiac arrest. But what is a shockable rhythm? And what happens when one of the AED shockable rhythms isn't present? If you are a potential AED user or [...]

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What should you do if you are using an AED and the device says "no shock advised?" If you are a designated first responder or expect that you might one day treat a victim of sudden cardiac arrest, it's important to understand: How an automated defibrillator works When an electric shock is [...]

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Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) dramatically increase survival rates from cardiac arrest, but which action should you take immediately after providing an AED shock? Knowing what to do after using an AED is not only essential for ensuring the best outcome for the victim. It's also [...]

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There are situations that require special care when using an automated external defibrillator (AED) to treat a victim of cardiac arrest. In the event of a cardiac emergency, you’ll need to understand the special considerations involved when using an AED on: Pediatric patients Wet or [...]

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Can you use child AED pads on an adult? The question comes up fairly often. For instance, what if your adult pads are about to expire and you’re left with just your pediatric set? Or what if your only set of adult pads failed during a cardiac emergency (such as by not adhering to the patient’s [...]

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Placing AED pads correctly is essential for ensuring that the defibrillator works properly and preventing undue harm to the patient. The correct placement varies between children and adults, though, and there are some unique situations where the general rules don’t apply. Adult Pad [...]

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Defibrillators are instrumental in preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) deaths, but how do they actually work? Though different types of defibrillators have different mechanisms behind them, they all operate on the same basic principle: using controlled electric shocks to prevent cardiac arrest [...]

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AEDs are designed to perform dozens of daily, weekly, and monthly self-tests, and if one of these tests indicates a concern, the device will emit loud beeps to alert you. But because the defibrillator tests for numerous functional issues, it’s not always easy to determine why the device is [...]

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Doctors are trained to do everything in their power to save a patient’s life in a dire emergency, and bystanders are likewise tasked in many cases to perform CPR on an unconscious individual. But what happens when the patient doesn’t want to be subjected to aggressive lifesaving measures? Can [...]