Choosing the Right AED | AED Authority
For someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) every minute counts. The rate of survival drops by 10% for every minute from collapse without intervention and after 5-6 minutes survival rate will hit 0%. Defibrillation is key to surviving SCA and if enacted within the first few minutes from collapse survival can be boosted to as high as 70%. The key to saving a life in this situation is knowing the steps and understanding the technology. What is an Automatic external defibrillator (AED)? An Automatic external defibrillator (AED) is a device that delivers a set amount of electrical shock to the heart after it analyses heart rhythm. It determines whether a shock is required to the heart through adhesive electrode pads attached to the person’s chest. If an abnormal heartbeat is detected, the AED will shock to interrupt the abnormal rhythm of the heart giving the heart a chance to return to its normal pumping rhythm. Put simply, an AED is a powerful, lifesaving device that shou