AED Frequently Asked Questions

What does AED Stand for?

Automated External Defibrillator


Why should we place an AED at our facilities?

Early defibrillation with an on-site AED can be the difference between life and death. The time to the first defibrillation shock is the most critical factor in determining survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). With every minute that goes by, survival rates decrease by about 10%. That leaves a window of ten minutes in which to potentially save your life or the life of someone you know, after which survival rates average less than 2%. The best results for defibrillation occur in the first three minutes, measured from the moment the victim collapses to when the defibrillation shock is delivered. On average, it takes EMS teams in the U.S. an average of 6 to 12 minutes to arrive. That's why having an AED readily accessible wherever groups of people gather makes good preventive sense.


Who Can Use an AED?

Anyone, even children 11 years of age can be trained to use an AED.


How does an AED work?

An AED is an electronic device, usually portable, that analyzes and treats cardiac arrest by reestablishing a regular heart rhythm. It applies an electric shock to your heart muscle, allowing the rhythm of the heart to resynchronize.

An AED is called external because the operator applies the electrode pads to the bare chest of the victim.

Once the pads are attached to the victim's chest, the AED analyzes the heart rhythm and determines if a shock is needed to treat fibrillation. If the device decides that a shock is necessary, it will charge and prepare to deliver the shock. When charged, the device tells the user to ensure no one is in physical contact with the victim and then to press the “shock” button. After the shock is delivered, the device begins to monitor the heart rhythm again, to determine if another shock is necessary.


Is Calling 9-1-1 Enough?

Emergency medical service ( EMS ) professionals and firefighters save many SCA victims each year, but a lack of equipment and time delays keep them from saving many more. Unfortunately, not every emergency vehicle carries a defibrillator, the only device that can treat sudden cardiac arrest. In some large metropolitan areas, an ambulance may not even get to the scene in less than 10 minutes due to traffic. And, on average, it takes EMS teams in the U.S. 6-12 minutes to arrive. So, even if an EMS team does have a defibrillator, the response time may not be fast enough to save a victim's life.

Survival rates are highest for patients who receive a defibrillation shock within three minutes of collapse. This almost requires that an AED be on-site anywhere groups of people gather and that trained responders are available.

Remember, 90-95 percent of all SCA victims die. Documented AED programs have shown that survival rates can rise to 70 percent or more when an AED program is in place.

Waiting for medical professionals when someone is in sudden cardiac arrest could delay treatment - and could cost the person his or her life.


Does the AED Take the Place of CPR?

No. The AED is part of CPR. For maximum benefits (that is, the best chance of survival) you must use the two tools together!


How Safe are AEDs? Can I accidentally shock someone?

Using an AED is virtually foolproof because it analyzes the patient’s heart rhythm and will not allow a shock to be delivered unless it is safe to do so. The AED is so safe, that it can be used effectively by anybody with only a small amount of training.


What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Who Can it Happen to?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), also known as ventricular fibrillation (VF), is an electrical malfunction of the heart. With VF, the regular, systematic pumping action of the heart’s chambers stops because the normal electrical signal that runs through the heart in a prescribed sequence has been interrupted for some reason. Electrical chaos ensues and results in uncontrolled, non-productive quivering of the heart chambers.
There are many causes – congenital defects, illness, heart attack, environmental conditions, even physical contact! A hard blow to the chest can knock a healthy youngster or a well-conditioned athlete into cardiac arrest. Dehydration or heat exertion can do the same. Did you know that most drowning victims go into cardiac arrest as well? The bottom line is that anyone, at any age, can become a victim of sudden cardiac arrest!


AED/CPR/CARDIAC ARREST STATS

In the past year, over 200,000 Americans died of sudden cardiac arrest: approximately one death every two minutes.

The average survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest is about 5 percent. Utilizing an AED increases the survival rate to more than 40 percent. For every minute that treatment is delayed, the chances for survival decrease by 10 percent.


Who can have a SCA?

Anyone, anytime. Children can have SCA, teenagers can have SCA, athletes can have SCA, elderly people can have SCA. Although the risk of SCA increases with age and in people with heart problems, a large percentage of the victims are people with no known risk factors.


Where do cardiac arrests occur?

Everywhere!

Work, School, the Grocery Store, Church, Restaurants…etc.


Who maintains the AED machine?

The AEDs offered under this program are self monitoring.


What is my Liability?

Almost every state includes the "good faith" use of an AED by any person under the Good Samaritan Laws. "Good faith" protection under a Good Samaritan law allows that a first responder cannot be held liable for any harm or death of a victim by providing improper care. This is given that the harm or death was not intentional.


What search terms brought you to our site?

Here is a list of some of the most common search terms people used in search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, and MSN to find our AED Grant Program:

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Our Goal: An AED wherever tragedy may strike.

An AED in every Home…
An AED in every Business…
An AED in every Public Place…

AEDGrant.com ~
Providing Funding to Empower America in Deploying these Critical Lifesaving Devices...

AEDGrant.com ~ Providing Funding to Empower America in Deploying these Critical Lifesaving Devices..

AEDGrant.com Public & Private Entities Grant for funding Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). This program is designed to help institutions and individuals everywhere place these amazing life-saving devices at an affordable price. You may even apply as an Individual for a Home AED! Generous participation and corporate backing have been secured by AEDGrant.com for this corporate sponsored AED Buy Down Grant Project . AEDGrant.com also offers training for CPR and AEDs. AEDGrant.com can help you donate an AED, receive funding for an AED Device, place defibrillators in your home or workplace, help public facilities obtain AED Grants for Automated External Defibrillators and discounts on AED Batteries and AED Cabinets. We work with AED Manufacturers such as Philips, Physio Control, Defibtech, HeartSine, and Zoll to provide state of the art AED machines like the OnSite, FRx, LifePak CR2, Lifeline, Samaritan PAD 350P, and more... let us know your Defibrillation of AED Training need, and we can help you find your AED answers. We even have resources for refurbished AEDs and AED Refurbishers. What was your search term & what Search engine did you use? Email us, we'd love to know!