An automated external defibrillator or AED is a life-saving machine. An AED can be used on children over one year old if their heart has stopped beating. It gives the heart an electric shock to start it beating again.
Once an AED has been brought to you, ask someone to help you by switching it on and following the prompts to apply the pads, so that you don’t have to stop giving CPR.
When switched on the AED will immediately start to give you visual and verbal prompts telling you what to do.
To find out more about first aid procedures and how to perform them on children and babies, follow the link below for your free trial on our Paediatric First Aid Refresher -
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VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
An automated external defibrillator or AED is a life-saving machine. An AED can be used on children over one year old if their heart has stopped beating. It gives the heart an electric shock to start it beating again.
Once an AED has been brought to you, ask someone to help you by switching it on and following the prompts to apply the pads, so that you don’t have to stop giving CPR.
When switched on the AED will immediately start to give you visual and verbal prompts telling you what to do. The AED prompts will give instructions similar to these:
• Remove all clothing from the child or baby’s chest.
• Make sure the skin is dry.
• Open the bag and take out the pads.
• Pictures on the pads will show you where they should go.
• Remove the backing paper from one pad.
• The first pad should be pressed firmly on to bare skin in the centre of their chest, about level with their nipples and the other pad placed in the centre of their upper back. The pads should be positioned lengthways with the long sides in line with the length of the child’s body.
• Once the pads are in place, the AED will start evaluating their heart’s rhythm.
• It will tell you to stop giving CPR and tell everyone to stand well back.
• It will tell you when it’s preparing to deliver the shock and remind you that everyone must be clear and not touching the child or baby.
• It will then tell you it’s delivering the shock – there’s often an audible beep warning at this point.
• It tells you when the shock has been delivered and tells you to restart chest compressions and rescue breaths. And to continue CPR for 2 minutes before it re-analyses.
At this point it could say, “No shock advised, continue CPR”. If the child or baby shows signs of becoming responsive, put them in the appropriate recovery position. Leave the AED attached, so that it can keep monitoring them - in case they stop breathing again.
Continue to follow the voice and/or visual prompts that the machine gives you until help arrives.
