2. AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR
(AED)
6-2
Many victims who receive
BLS need an AED
Often in cardiac arrest
heart has abnormal rhythm
Use AED with unresponsive
victim who is not breathing
normally
AED may correct abnormal
heart rhythm
3. CREW ACCESS TO AEDS
6-3
Ideally an AED
should reach victim
within minutes
AEDs available in
Hospital
For use by trained
rescuers and first
aiders
4. HOW AEDS
WORK
• Automatically
checks victim’s heart
rhythm to detect
fibrillation
• Advises whether
victim needs a shock
• The shock
(defibrillation) is an
attempt to return
heart to a more
normal rhythm
5. TIME IS IMPORTANT
6-5
AEDs are easy and
simple to use but must
be used right away
With every minute
that goes by, survival
drops by about 10%
6. INTERNAL PACEMAKER/DEFIBRILLATOR
• May see bulge beneath victim’s skin
• Do not place AED over area—place it at least one or more inches away
• If victim’s body is jerking
• Implanted defibrillator may be giving shocks
• Wait until jerking ends
6-6
7. AED USE IN CHILDREN
• Follow adult guidelines for
children over age 8
• Sudden cardiac arrest can
occur in younger children and
infants
• SIDS
• Poisoning
• Drowning
• Heart problems
• Give child two minutes of CPR before using AED
• Unless witnessed that child collapsed suddenly
