The rate of cardiac arrests has gone up significantly in the past few years, cardiac arrests have also become one of the major cause of death in the country. There have been many instances where the cause of death has been noted as cardiac arrest, and the location has been the workplace. People are taking training sessions to be ready to respond to such instances and help people around them. The major cause of a cardiac arrest is a cardiovascular disease. The rate of survival goes from 5 percent to 80 percent if the victim is helped by a trained automated external defibrillator or AED operator.

What is an AED?
An automated external defibrillator works in saving the lives of people when they are having a heart attack. It is a tiny computerized device that is designed to understand and fix the heart rhythm of humans. If a person is having a heart attack, their heart rhythm is hampered and becomes unstable. In such a situation, if an AED is plugged in at the right time, the heart rhythm can be stabilized again for the time being.

How does an AED function?
The primary function of an AED is to measure the heart rhythm of the individual that is suffering from a cardiac arrest. The mechanism works to determine the heart rhythm and then delivers appropriate voice instructions to the person handling the machine. After this, the AED delivers an electric shock to the victim, this electric shock works in resetting the heart rhythm of the affected person. The timing is key when you are indulging with an automated external defibrillator as the chances of survival might fall to a new low every minute. The AED has an extensive range of advantages and can save the life of the patient. The survival rate of people that receive an AED is 80 percent higher than the people who don’t.

When can one use an AED?
A cardiac arrest can occur without any prior notice and at any place, and time. You must be prepared if you are trained to operate an automated external defibrillator. When a cardiac arrest hits an individual their heart starts to beat irregularly, this is known as ventricular fibrillation. In such a case, if a shock is not delivered it can lead to a possible death of the individual. The more time a patient spends in the ventricular fibrillation the chances of survival start to get thinner. Heart attacks usually occur during the mornings as the adrenaline and cortisol levels are high. The person who is operating the AED must be aware of the symptoms, gauge them and then react promptly. You must use an AED when a person starts to become unresponsive all of a sudden, has difficulty in breathing, does not respond after being tapped firmly on the shoulder, and is unable to take deep breaths. You must call 911 and use the AED in case of an emergency.

Where to find an AED?
The American Heart Association has encouraged the placement of AEDs, and offer public access to them, at all large group meetings. Even if the laws differ from state to state, most of the states have adopted the placement of AEDs in places like schools, public areas, health clubs, and sports stadiums. Along with that, all the emergency response vehicles are equipped with AEDs. Marking the AEDs is important, as locating them in public areas or worksites should not be an issue one must have to face during an emergency. If you are someone who has received training on AED, you must be aware of its location beforehand.

What is the training process for using an AED?
Getting your hands on an AED training process is one of the easiest tasks with the developments in technology. The entire training process by the American Heart Association, called the Heartsaver, is available online. Post which you can also get access to hands-on training with instructors. Along with this, the American Red Cross also offers live training as well as certifications for the use of AED in many communities. As the device is easy to use and gives out all the instructions during the use, the training does not last for more than a few hours. According to the research done by Red Cross, training people for AED and giving ready access to public areas can help save up to 50,000 lives per year. The American Heart Association encourages every individual to take the AED training and successfully learn how to operate an AED.