AED
Automated External Defibrillation (AED)
An AED is required when the casualty has suffered a cardiac arrest. This is where the heart’s electrical impulses have been interrupted. A controlled electric shock through the heart enables it to resume its normal beating rhythm.
It is very important to administer the shock as quickly as possible. For every one minute delay, the chance of survival drops by up to 10%.
Signs & Symptoms
The casualty will be unconscious and they will not be breathing.
Treatment
- Check it is safe for you to approach the casualty then check for a response by shouting and shaking their shoulders.
- Open the airway by putting one hand on their forehead and the other hand under their chin. Gently tip back the head.
- Look, listen and feel for normal breathing for 10 seconds.
- If you have an unconscious casualty who isn’t breathing, call 999/112. If you are alone use your phone’s loudspeaker and start CPR. If you are not alone, ask someone to bring the AED.
- Switch on the AED and follow the instructions. If you are unsure whether an AED is needed, attach it to the casualty anyway – the machine won’t shock unless it is necessary. If you have help, one person should continue CPR while you prepare the AED.
- You may need to dry the chest area if it is wet and/or shave chest hair. This is to ensure the pads stick properly. Don’t waste too much time and if a razor isn’t available continue with attaching the pads.
- The pads will have a picture on them to indicate where to place them. One pad goes below the casualty’s right collar bone, the other on their left side under their ribs.
- The AED will analyse the heart rhythm and will tell you if a shock is required or not. Stand clear if a shock is advised. No one should be touching the casualty. Press the shock button when prompted (a fully automatic machine will do this for you).
- Following a shock (or no shock, if advised) the AED will ask you continue with CPR at a rate of 30:2. Keep following the instructions given by the AED until professional help arrives.
AED use on children
If there are no signs of normal breathing and an AED is available then it should be used as soon as possible. Paediatric pads are available for AEDs which reduce the size of the shock given to children. However, if you only have adult pads it is still better to use them than not to use the AED.
Minor changes are needed when giving CPR to a child or infant. If you can only remember the adult sequence it is still better to follow this than to do nothing at all.
- Check it is safe for you to approach the casualty then check for a response by shouting and shaking their shoulders.
- Open the airway by putting one hand on their forehead and the other hand under their chin. Gently tip back the head – see picture of head tilt, chin lift.
- Do not over extend the neck on a baby under 1 year.
- Look, listen and feel for normal breathing for 10 seconds.
- If you have an unconscious child or infant who isn’t breathing, call 999/112 using your phone loudspeaker. If you have to leave them to dial 999/112, give one minute of CPR first <<link to child CPR>>. The same applies for an infant who isn’t breathing – give one minute of CPR first <<link to infant CPR>>.
- If an AED is available, switch it on and follow the instructions. If you are unsure whether an AED is needed, attach it to the casualty anyway – the machine won’t shock unless it is necessary.
- If you have help, one person should continue CPR while you prepare the AED.
- Connect the paediatric pads if available, otherwise use adult pads. The pads will have a picture on them to indicate where to place them. If using adult pads, place one on the back of the child and one on the front – see placement picture.
- The AED will analyse the heart rhythm and will tell you if a shock is required or not. If a shock is advised, stand clear – no one should be touching the casualty. Press the shock button when prompted (a fully automatic machine will do this for you).
- Following a shock (or no shock if advised) the AED will ask you continue with CPR at a rate of 30:2. Keep following the instructions given by the AED until professional help arrives.
Resuscitation
Related Learning
Chain of Survival