Looking at all the available CPR certifications online, you may be thinking, “What is an AED certification?” 
CPR and AEDs go together like PB&J! In an emergency requiring CPR, chest compressions are very important, but finding an AED is also important! AED stands for automated external defibrillator! It basically shocks the heart to try to achieve a normal heart rhythm!
You do not want to touch the individual while they are being shocked!
If the electrical current shocks a normal person, it could make their heart stop. The AED may not tell you to shock the individual every time it checks the heart rhythm. You always want to follow the prompts of the AED. Each AED manufacturer may be slightly different, but the steps to using one are:
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- Turn it on as soon as you get it to the cardiac arrest victim.
- Apply the shock pads to the patient’s bare chest.
- Follow the AED prompts.
- Always resume chest compressions when the defibrillator says to, unless the individual becomes responsive.
- Continue chest compressions and rescue breaths until emergency responders arrive
The classes that include AED certifications are BLS certification and First Aid CPR AED certification. Wherever chest compressions are included, you should try your best to find an AED or send someone to find an AED. Early defibrillation and chest compressions are the top two elements to successful resuscitations!
For healthcare workers in the hospital, they usually have a different kind of AED. It sits on top of a cart and has a screen on it that will show the individual’s heart rhythm. You may have heard it be called a “code cart” or “crash cart.” Healthcare workers with ACLS certifications know how to read these heart rhythms and determine which medications to give in addition to shocking the heart. The drawers of the cart contain various medications, syringes, and other materials necessary to save a life during an emergency.
Airports, grocery stores, malls, and schools are the some of the top areas you are most likely to find a defibrillator available. They are usually in a glass case on the wall. Some AEDs are manufactured in bright colors to make for easy visibility. Learn how to operate one today by taking a class at East Valley CPR in Chandler, AZ here! Be a leader in an emergency!