An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a lightweight, electronic portable device that can check for an abnormal heart rhythm and, if needed, deliver an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). According to the American Heart Association, AEDs increase the chance of surviving SCA by 50%. There are studies that show if an AED is placed on a student under age 18 within 3 minutes, there is an 89% chance of SCA survival.

Anyone trained in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can use an AED. Formal training is not required; however, the American Heart Association recommends an individual be trained in both.

An AED is designed to be simple and used by people with little or no training. Upon turning on the AED, it will begin coaching the user through the event using audible prompts and visual cues, such as lights on physical diagrams, or even a video screen on some AEDs like the ZOLL AED 3 model that we sell.

Almost anywhere people gather, an AED should be within 2 minutes. All first-response vehicles should have an AED. This includes ambulances, fire engines, and law enforcement vehicles. AEDs should also be placed in all fitness centers, public swimming pools, buildings with any occupancy, schools, recreation parks, all athletic programs, and especially in our schools.

No. When a person experiences cardiac arrest, an AED will improve the chances of restarting the heart, but CPR will help keep oxygen flowing to the brain. With AEDs, CPR is still needed, starting with determining whether a person is unconscious, not breathing, or without a pulse.

No. According to studies, only 50% of SCA victims will need a Shock with an AED. The AED treats only a heart in ventricular fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm. In cardiac arrest without ventricular fibrillation, the heart does not respond to electric currents. In such cases, the patient needs high quality CPR. The AEDs sold by Who We Play For have built in CPR coaching built into every one of them.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved guidelines for manufacturing and selling AEDs. In some cases, the FDA may require a physician’s prescription. Who We Play For will assist you if you decide to purchase an AED.

AEDs should be maintained according to manufacturer’s guidelines and tested after each use and monthly. Who We Play For offers monitoring systems that help monitor your machines for rescue readiness.