When should you use a defibrillator? Using an automated external defibrillator on a person who is having sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) may save the person’s life. The most common cause of SCA is an arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation (v-fib). In v-fib, the ventricles (the heart’s lower chambers) don’t beat normally
How does an AED work on the heart?
Sticky pads with sensors (called electrodes) are attached to the chest of the person who is having sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The electrodes send information about the person’s heart rhythm to a computer in the AED. The computer analyzes the heart rhythm to find out whether an electric shock is needed
How effective is the AED?
An AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest and is an easy to operate tool for someone with no medical background. Time is of the essence: The average response time for first responders once 911 is called is 8-12 minutes.
