Participants enrolled in CPR and AED courses will learn and demonstrate the ability to follow voice prompts and or symbols of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Regardless of the the provider, as long as the provider meet government and health standards, participants will learn the principles of AED’s and the different prompts and functions. This page will outline the requirements and components to successfully complete the AED portion of any CPR and / or first aid course.
To successfully complete a CPR or first aid course rescuers must:
- Understand and demonstrate proper decision making skills when using a AED.
- Accurate and logical assess the situation and come to the correct decisions and conclusions.
- Have a basic understanding of how the electrical heart works in relation to the mechanical heart.
- Have a basic understanding of basic cardiac arrhythmias.
- Rescuer must have the ability to follow AED prompts when given.
When a Analyse / stand clear prompt is stated rescuers must:
- Not touch the patient during this phase.
- Rescuers must direct all bystander to “stand clear”.
And when a shock / stand clear prompt is stated rescuers must:
- Not touch the patient during this phase.
- Must direct all bystanders to “stand clear”.
- Perform 2 minutes of CPR after the shock.
When a no shock prompt is stated rescuers must:
- Perform 2 minutes of CPR.
- Analyse the patient after 2 minutes when prompted by AED.
When a start CPR prompt is stated rescuers must:
- Follow AED prompts when given.
- Perform 2 minutes of CPR.
Additional Notes:
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Learn to effective use an AED by taking a course that provide an AED trainer and CPR mannequin Candidates may be required to know the 5 basic cardiac rhythms, or arrhythmias, and how they work.
- The AED is designed to pick up the S.A. node of the heart, which is a electrical output. The AED does not detect if the heart is beating.
- During the analyse and stand clear phase the AED is reading the electrical activity of the heart. Touching the patient during the analyse phase can set off a motion detected prompt.
- During the shock / stand clear phase the AED has determined that a shockable rhythm is present and will begin charging for a shock sequence.
- During the no shock prompt the AED has not detected a rhythm that requires a shock.
The use of AED’s has become dramatically more popular throughout Canada. AED use and certification has been implemented into every credible providers CPR and or first aid program. Register for a CPR and AED course (links is to our provider in Victoria) through one of our providers by visiting the location page on our site (link is from the menu). The use of a AED is simple and straightforward and can drastically increase the chances of survival for victims of cardiac arrest.