What is an AED used for?

What is an AED used for?

• A. To analyze the heart rhythm and provide a shock if needed.
• B. To perform CPR automatically.
• C. To monitor blood pressure.
• D. To deliver ventilation.

Answer: (A)

An AED’s job is to analyze the heart’s electrical rhythm and deliver a shock if the rhythm is one that can be treated with defibrillation. It uses external pads to assess the rhythm and, when a shockable rhythm such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia is detected, delivers an electric shock to try to restart a normal heartbeat. The device also provides guided prompts for pad placement, shock delivery, and continuing CPR, but it does not automatically perform CPR, monitor blood pressure, or provide ventilation. Those tasks are done by the rescuer, while the AED handles rhythm analysis and defibrillation.

An AED’s job is to analyze the heart’s electrical rhythm and deliver a shock if the rhythm is one that can be treated with defibrillation. It uses external pads to assess the rhythm and, when a shockable rhythm such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia is detected, delivers an electric shock to try to restart a normal heartbeat. The device also provides guided prompts for pad placement, shock delivery, and continuing CPR, but it does not automatically perform CPR, monitor blood pressure, or provide ventilation. Those tasks are done by the rescuer, while the AED handles rhythm analysis and defibrillation.