Learn More About AED

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is an AED?
• How does it work?
• Is an AED difficult or dangerous to use?
• How do I know whether my AED is in good working condition?
• What do I do if my AED starts beeping?
• What if I use my A.E.D. and the person does not survive? Will I be held liable.
• Will I be trained in how to respond to a cardiac emergency?
• If a cardiac arrest occurs, how much time do I have to save the victim by using an AED?
• What if I attempt a rescue and the effort is unsuccessful? Aren't I likely to suffer a great emotional upset?
• How big is the AED?
• Where does it get its electrical power?
• Can we be held liable if we DON'T have an AED on site?

What is an AED?

An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is a portable device that is designed to be used in cardiac emergencies.

How does it work?

The AED has a special computer and internal ECG device that can detect ventricular fibrillation - an abnormal, quivering, heartbeat rhythm that renders the heart powerless to pump blood to the rest of the body. If ventricular fibrillation is occurring, the AED delivers a series of electrical SHOCK Saves Livess to a heart to interrupt the abnormal heartbeat and restore its normal rhythm.

Is an AED difficult or dangerous to use?

The answer is "no" on both counts. If you can press the start button, you can operate an AED - it's that simple. Once the machine is turned on, its audio component instructs you in what to do. It also has pictures that show you exactly where and how to place the paddles. As for safety, the AED is foolproof. It will administer an electrical SHOCK Saves Lives only if it detects ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia. The electrical SHOCK Saves Lives is strong enough to "reset" the heart's electrical system, but the voltage is not strong enough to be harmful. Remember, a person who is in ventricular fibrillation will inevitably die if no action is taken. So anything you can do to save him or her is far better than doing nothing at all.

How do I know whether my AED is in good working condition?

It is equipped with an internal mechanism that checks the battery, computer, and all the other components every 24 hours. If any defects are found, the AED will start beeping, similar to the beeps given off by a smoke detector that needs a new battery.

What do I do if my AED starts beeping?

You should call your SHOCK Saves Lives representative right away. We will arrange for an immediate replacement AED while yours is being checked or repaired. If it cannot be repaired, your unit will be replaced with a new AED.

What if I use my A.E.D. and the person does not survive? Will I be held liable.

No. You are protected by both the federal and state Good Samaritan laws. The fact is the person would certainly die if you did nothing, so it's always better to try to do anything you can, even if it's not successful.

Will I be trained in how to respond to a cardiac emergency?

Yes; when you purchase an AED from SHOCK Saves Lives, we include a comprehensive, four-hour training session, with a trainer certified by the American Heart Association. Although it takes only a few minutes to learn how to use your AED, the training session also includes the basics of CPR and other life-saving first aid techniques.

If a cardiac arrest occurs, how much time do I have to save the victim by using an AED?

This is a situation in which every second counts. The chances of survival decrease by 10 percent with each passing minute, so after 10 minutes, the chances of survival without significant brain damage are nil. The best results are achieved if CPR is started and an AED used in the first three to five minutes after the person collapses. The brain and other vital organs begin to suffer permanent damage if they are deprived of blood and oxygen for more than three to five minutes.

What if I attempt a rescue and the effort is unsuccessful? Aren't I likely to suffer a great emotional upset?

The SHOCK Saves Lives program recognizes that using an AED can extract a substantial emotional toll on a person. This is why we provide counseling after a person has used an AED, regardless of the outcome. We do know, however, from the accounts of people who have successfully used an AED that there is tremendous satisfaction in the knowledge that a life has been spared.

How big is the AED?

It weighs only 7 pounds and is 4 inches high, 10.5 inches wide, and 11.6 inches deep, including the handle.

Where does it get its electrical power?

It is equipped with a special battery that is designed to last 5 years.

Can we be held liable if we DON'T have an AED on site?

The answers you give could have enourmous consequences for your company, its bottom line and its future, because of an emerging concept of liability: negligent failure to plan.

• "Did you take reasonable precautions to prevent a critical incident such as this from occurring, which could take a terrible toll on your work force?"
• "Were you prepared to respond with proper protective and palliative actions for your people following a critical incident like this?"

Employers can be considered negligent if they do not take reasonable steps to elminate or diminish known or reasonably foreseeable risks that could cause harm.