Heartsave program

AED stands for automated external defibrillator. Broken down, this means that:

• AEDs are automatic –meaning they work by themselves.Once you turn it on, it will speak to you and give you simple directions. You only push a button to activate it.
• They are external–or outside of the body.You don’t have to insert an AED device.They come with pads that you stick to the person’s chest.
• They are defibrillator devices – or heart restarters.You may have seen doctors in medical dramas shout “clear,” when they use a defibrillator on T.V.

Think of when your car battery dies and you need to jump it to restart. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) do that for hearts. AED machines are small, portable electronic devices that restore normal heart rhythm to people in cardiac arrest. They are safe and easy to use even if you aren’t a medical professional.

In an emergency where someone’s heart has stopped, AEDs restart a heartbeat. CPR helps keep a heartbeat going but typically can’t jumpstart the heart into beating on its own again. AEDs do that. Especially in a situation where an ambulance may take a long time to arrive, AEDs can save lives.

To use an AED in an emergency situation, you open the case it is in and lay it on the ground beside the person having a heart attack. Once you turn it on, it will talk to you and give you instructions on the steps to use it safely. Typically, in public buildings, someone on staff will be trained to use the AED and can help.