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Date Published: June 30, 2025
Using an AED as soon as possible when someone is in cardiac arrest helps give them the best chance of survival. But some people who find themselves in an emergency like this might be hesitant to use one or afraid they'll use it incorrectly. Our instructor Gunnar Mohlhenrich will help you be more confident by answering important questions and busting common myths.
You do not but AED training can help you. It will help you be more comfortable using an AED and give you the confidence to act more quickly. It will also assist you in noticing signs and symptoms that may require an AED. We always recommend formal training, but it is not necessary to help someone in an emergency.
Bystander AED use is very important. It can take first responders seven to eight minutes to arrive at the scene of an emergency. Additionally, for every minute that CPR and defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival reduces by about 10 percent.
We can't control where someone may go into cardiac arrest. They may occasionally be poolside or in the weather. The biggest thing is, we don't want to be using an AED in a puddle of water or a body of water. If you're outside in the rain, you just need to try and keep the AED dry and wipe the chest dry so that you're not applying the pads to a wet surface.
Yes, you can. That's another great myth to bust. Some people think that if someone has an implanted defibrillator, or pacemaker, you cannot use an AED, but you can. You just need to adjust your pad placement so that it's not over the top of the device. That's the biggest thing. They're usually located in the upper chest but are usually pronounced so that you can see them.
AEDs are absolutely safe to use on pregnant people. The best chance of survival for the person and the baby would be to use that AED as soon as possible. Make sure you are using the adult pads with the AED on a pregnant person.
When used properly, AEDs are extremely safe. They're only going to deliver a shock if the AED detects a shockable rhythm. Once you apply the AED, if the person is not in cardiac arrest, the device is not going to deliver a shock. It will tell you there is no shock advised.
They are synonymous. Shock is a more informal way of saying defibrillation.
We always recommend formal training, and, if you’ve had training before, going through recertification. We recommend recertification every two years because you may not have used an AED or AED training device in those two years and you may be a little rusty. Sometimes I even learn new things when I go back for recertification. I'm constantly getting re-certified and staying up to date on new science and new best practices.
Red Cross AED Trainers (English/Spanish) do talk in different languages. Real life AEDs out there will be manufacture specific, meaning some may have different languages and others may not.
Training Services is a division of the American Red Cross. Our mission is to advance lifesaving education so you are better to prepared. Our robust training curriculum includes CPR and AED, First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Babysitting and Child Care, Lifeguarding, Water Safety and more.
