How to use an AED in a cardiac emergency

Every minute counts during cardiac arrest.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, coach or bystander, learning how to use an automated external defibrillator, or AED, can help save a life at school, an athletic event, work or anywhere an emergency happens.

Three things Jeff Zampi, M.D., pediatric cardiologist at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, wants people to know: anyone can use an AED, it can’t hurt you or the person who needs it and using the device is much simpler than you may think.

Importantly, AEDs provide clear voice instructions and will only deliver a shock if it’s needed.

In this video, Zampi provides a step-by-step guide on how to use the lifesaving device and explains what to expect in a cardiac emergency.

More than 350,000 people of all ages experience an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest in the United States annually, with many of these cases resulting in death before reaching the hospital, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Early CPR and quick access to an AED significantly improve the chances of survival.

“You don’t have to be a doctor to save a life,” Zampi said. “Knowing where an AED is and being willing to use it can make all the difference.”

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