When should you use an AED?

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) should be used as soon as it is available after confirming that a victim is unresponsive and not breathing normally. The primary goal when responding to a cardiac arrest is to restore normal heart rhythm as quickly as possible. Using an AED early in the process significantly improves the chances of survival, as it can deliver a shock to restart the heart if needed.

Immediate action is crucial, and the recommendation is to attach the AED following these observations, regardless of the pulse check. This ensures that treatment is initiated swiftly, allowing time for the AED to assess the heart rhythm while CPR is ongoing, if necessary. Time is a critical factor in these situations, and prompt use of the AED can make a life-saving difference.

Waiting to use the AED until a specific time period has passed or checking for a pulse before utilizing it may delay critical defibrillation treatment, which can jeopardize the victim's chance of recovery. The focus is always on delivering timely care in a cardiac emergency.