What You Should Do After Providing an AED Shock

March 18, 2021

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are life saving machines made for anyone to use. The quicker an AED is used, the higher the chances of survival from SCA. Once the machine is turned on, it will give you voice prompts telling you exactly what to do. Our Lifeline VIEW AED will also provide full motion color video showing you what to do!
 
Once a defibrillation shock is delivered, your job is not done. Every situation is different. Here are some things you might need to do after providing a shock to someone:
 
In a perfect scenario, the person will be awake, conscious, responsive, and breathing after one shock from the Lifeline AED. If this happens, monitor the person and make sure they do not go back unresponsive or stop breathing. If an AED is used on someone, they are going to the hospital for follow up treatment. Stay with them until EMS arrives.
 
If the person is still unresponsive and not breathing, start providing CPR. The AED will have a metronome which provides the perfect beat to provide your chest compressions. The AED will allow you to provide CPR for two minutes. After two minutes, the AED will tell you to stand clear so it can start analyzing to determine if a second shock is needed. After a second shock, the AED will allow you to provide two more minutes of CPR. The AED will continue working in this way with two minutes of CPR between each shock. Continue listening to the AED until EMS arrives to take over.
 
Regardless of the situation here are two important things to remember:
1. Never remove the defibrillator pads from the person’s body. They will be removed properly when the person arrives at the hospital.
2. Never turn the AED off.
 
EMS will provide more complex medical treatment when they arrive. They are trained medical professionals. By providing CPR and using an AED before EMS arrives, you are giving someone the absolute best chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest.
 
To learn more about Defibtech and to join us on our quest to save lives from sudden cardiac arrest, visit www.Defibtech.com.