News / AED training

Most buildings that own an AED have never rehearsed using one. A practical standard for workplace readiness: trained responders on every shift, a location everyone can name, and a drill that has actually been walked.

Yes. An AED is used on a pregnant woman exactly as on any other adult. Standard adult pads, standard placement, standard energy. There is no stage of pregnancy at which defibrillation is withheld.

Yes in all three cases. Rain and snow do not stop a defibrillation. A patient in standing water is dragged clear first, then the chest is wiped dry. Metal surfaces are safe provided the pads are off the metal and rescuers are clear.

Yes. A pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator does not prevent AED use. Place the pad about an inch clear of the implant rather than over it, then run the AED normally. The implant is a placement adjustment, not a contraindication.

No, and you do not need to. An AED is for a person who is unresponsive and not breathing normally. If you are unsure, attach it anyway. The device analyzes the rhythm first and will announce no shock advised rather than shocking a heart that does not need it.

Yes in all three, with one condition. Motion interferes with rhythm analysis, so the vehicle should be stopped or the analysis timed to a still moment. Large US commercial passenger aircraft are federally required to carry an approved AED.

An AED can be used on almost anyone in sudden cardiac arrest, including people with pacemakers, pregnant women, children, and patients on wet or metal surfaces. The real exceptions are about what sits between the pad and the skin, and whether the patient is moving.

A simple step-by-step guide to using an AED in a cardiac emergency — when to use one, how to attach the pads, delivering a shock, and using an AED on a child.