What is AED in First Aid? – A Detailed Overview

While sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death worldwide, and early defibrillation using an AED can significantly improve survival chances, it’s no surprise that people are looking for an appropriate answer to the question, What is AED in first aid?

An Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) is a medical device employed in first aid to assist in the resuscitation of a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It operates by analysing a person’s heart rhythm and, if necessary, administering an electric shock to the heart. 

This write-up will illustrate everything you need to know about AED, including its importance, types, usage and other required information.

Now, let’s dive into the details without further adieu.

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Automated External Defibrillator, popularly known as AED is an integral part of the chain of survival. It is a medical device applied to treat sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). It monitors the heart’s rhythm and, if required, delivers an electrical shock, known as defibrillation, to assist the heart in reestablishing an effective rhythm. 

Now the question is, what is AED in first aid and how can you use the same in any emergency situation?

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What is AED in First Aid?

In order to increase the chances of survival for individuals who have suffered from sudden cardiac arrest, AEDs have been used by medical professionals as well as first responders and in public places like airports, schools and workplaces. 

SCA happens when the heart stops beating suddenly and, if not treated immediately, can result in brain damage or death. That’s why AEDs are intended to administer an electric shock to the heart to help restore regular beating. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are machines designed to deliver a shock to the heart in order to treat Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). AEDs are portable and easy to use for anyone trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). 

These devices are a crucial component in the survival chain, helping restore the heart’s normal rhythm so oxygen can flow to the brain and other vital organs. 

Importance of AED in First Aid

Using an AED in first aid is crucial and can help save someone’s life who is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Below are some of the key reasons why an AED is useful in first aid:

You can visit our other blog on 9 reasons why first aid is important for a more elaborate explanation.

How does an AED Work?

The heart has four hollow chambers:

• two on the right take blood from the body and transmit it to the lungs for oxygen, 
• and two on the left collect freshly oxygenated blood from the lungs and transport it throughout the body.

The heart’s upper right chamber contains specialised pacemaker cells that regulate the heart’s rate. When the coronary arteries surrounding the heart become damaged, either enough oxygen cannot reach the pacemaker cells or enough blood cannot reach the heart muscle, resulting in a heart attack or ventricular fibrillation.

The electrical shock from an AED can effectively reset the heart muscle, allowing it to reestablish its regular rhythm and begin pumping again.

Let’s get a detailed overview of the two main types of AED.

Types of AED

The two main types of AED are:

• Fully automatic AED
• Semi-automatic AED

Fully Automatic AED

After connecting the electrode pads and turning on the device, this type of AED will analyse the person’s heart rhythm and, if a shock is required, will deliver it automatically after a prompt or countdown period without any input from the rescuer. A completely automatic AED has the advantage of requiring less user interaction, making it a desirable solution for persons with little or no training.

Semi-automatic AED

This AED needs the rescuer to initiate the shock by pressing a button. It will still evaluate the heart rhythm and determine if a shock is required, but the rescuer must follow the device’s directions to give the shock manually. The benefit of a semi-automatic AED is that the rescuer has more control over the device and can delay the shock if necessary.

How to Use An AED?

If you are interested in learning how to use an AED in a medical emergency, you might wonder, “What is AED training in first aid?” It involves learning how to safely and effectively use an AED to help save a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. 

Even after training, remembering how to operate an AED correctly might be challenging. We’ve designed a brief step-by-step guide for you. To use an AED, follow these general guidelines:

AED Steps

The following AED protocols should be used if you are taking care of a non-breathing adult or child who is at least 55 pounds and eight years old.

Things to Remember

• Do not use an AED on a child under the age of one year.
• When using an AED on a child under the age of eight or weighing less than 55 pounds, apply paediatric pads and follow the AED’s instructions for administering a shock appropriate for the child’s age and weight. 
• Some AEDs feature a paediatric mode that will adjust the shock level accordingly. If the victim is an infant, one should use a manual defibrillator. 

You may visit our other blog, What is the first aid treatment for heart attack?

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, our write-up on “What is AED in first aid” has thoroughly acquainted you with a medical device applied to treat sudden cardiac arrest in a first aid setting. While AEDs can be pretty helpful in treating sudden cardiac arrest, they are not suited for all forms of cardiac arrest.

For example, an AED may be ineffective if the person is having a heart attack or another non-cardiac incident. In these situations, it is vital to seek medical treatment as soon as possible and to follow proper first aid techniques.