Who can use an AED?

Most AEDs are designed for use by non-medical personnel such as police, flight attendants, security guards, and other lay rescuers who have been properly trained. Having more people in the community w…

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Is cardiac arrest the same thing as a heart attack?

No. A heart attack is caused by a sudden blockage of a small artery that supplies blood to the heart muscle. When the blood supply is cut off, that portion of the heart muscle dies and this is what ca…

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What does AED stand for?

AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator.

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Why are AEDs important?

AEDs are important because they strengthen the Chain of Survival. They can restore a normal heart rhythm in victims of sudden cardiac arrest. New, portable AEDs enable more people to respond to a medi…

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What’s an AED?

An AED is a device used to administer an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart. Built-in computers assess the patient’s heart rhythm, judge whether defibrillation is needed, and the…

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How does an AED work?

A microprocessor inside the defibrillator interprets (analyzes) the victim’s heart rhythm through adhesive electrodes (some AED models require you to press an ANALYZE button). The computer analy…

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Does a cardiac arrest only happen after a heart attack?

No. Anyone can have a cardiac arrest at any time. Heart attacks are only one potential cause of cardiac arrest.

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What is a cardiac arrest?

A cardiac arrest means that the heart stops pumping blood through the body. Without a constant blood supply, the brain stops working almost immediately and the person goes unconscious.

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