Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About AED Units Answered
Using an AED is easy but it is a technological tool and one which deals with a critical condition. Hence, some questions are important to be asked and users do ask them quite frequently. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about AEDs:
Question: What does AED stand for?
Answer: AED is the abbreviation of Automated External Defibrillators.
Question: What is an AED?
Answer: it is a life-saving tool that administers an electric shock to people having cardiac arrest after analyzing their heartbeat.
Question: Is it difficult/complicated to use an AED?
Answer: AEDs are very easy to use as they have a simple user interface and design. Even people without formal training can use them.
Question: How does an AED work?
Answer: The device uses a simple mechanism. Two pads with electrodes are attached to the victim’s chest; one on the left side below armpit and next to the left nipple while the other one is attached to the right side under collarbone. Once that is done, the device analyzes the heartbeat pattern and decides to give a shock or not. This is either done through a vocal command mechanism or the device administers the shock itself.
Question: What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?
Answer: Sudden cardiac arrest is a heart condition where the heart’s normal beating rhythm is disturbed and becomes chaotic; it either becomes too fast or stops entirely. The victim loses consciousness, cannot breathe and cannot respond to anything.
Question: What is the recommended treatment for SCA?
Answer: Defibrillation has been found to be the most effective treatment when it comes to restoring heart rhythms to normal patters in a SCA.
Question: How much time do I have to respond if someone has a sudden cardiac arrest?
Answer: It’s a very critical condition and every minute counts. If no help is given in the first 10-12 minutes, the person may die. Every minute’s delay causes the survival chances to decrease by 7-10%.
Question: Can the AED itself make a mistake?
Answer: It is based on advanced technology and 95% of the time, the AED does not make any mistake. It efficiently detects a heartbeat in 90% of the cases and only recommends a shock if the heartbeat pattern indicates a need for it.
Question: What is the best AED for me?
Answer: All of the AED’s will be useful in any situation, but some of the AED’s have CPR prompts which will also assist an untrained user through CPR as well. These are our recommended AED’s for the following users: (Schools, Churches, Offices), (Fire, EMS, Ambulance, Police), (Dentist, Healthcare, Fitness Centers)
Question: How long do the pads and batteries last?
Answer: All AED's have different expiration dates for their pads and batteries, see our comparison chart. (Comparison Chart)
Question: How do I buy a defibrillator - AED?
Answer: You can buy an AED from AED Market. They are available on call at 1-800-441-8378. You can also visit the website for further information.