A coworker collapses near a loading dock. A customer becomes unresponsive in a lobby. In those first minutes, calm action can protect a life. Knowing how to use AED in emergencies helps employees, supervisors, and bystanders respond while emergency medical services are on the way.
An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is designed for public use. It gives audible and visual prompts, checks the person’s heart rhythm, and advises whether a shock is needed. The device will not deliver a shock unless it detects a shockable rhythm. Your job is not to diagnose the emergency. Your job is to recognize cardiac arrest, call for help, begin CPR, and follow the AED’s instructions.
Use an AED when a person is unresponsive and is not breathing normally. Occasional gasping, snoring-like sounds, or irregular breaths are not normal breathing and should be treated as a possible cardiac arrest.
Do not delay action while trying to decide whether the person has fainted, had a seizure, or suffered a heart attack. If they do not respond and are not breathing normally, call 911, send someone for the AED, and begin CPR. Emergency dispatchers can provide instructions by phone until professional responders arrive.
An AED is not used on a person who is awake, responsive, or breathing normally. If the person is conscious but has chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or other concerning symptoms, call 911 and monitor them until help arrives.
The exact wording and images on AED units vary by manufacturer, but the response sequence remains consistent. Once the AED arrives, turn it on immediately and follow its prompts.
If other people are nearby, assign clear tasks. Tell one person to call 911, another to bring the AED, and another to meet responding EMS personnel and direct them to the scene. Specific instructions prevent confusion in a high-stress moment.
If you are alone, call 911 on speakerphone if possible so you can begin care without ending the call. Follow dispatcher guidance, especially if the AED is not close by or the person is a child.
Start chest compressions as soon as you identify that the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest, place your other hand on top, and press hard and fast at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Allow the chest to fully rise between compressions.
If you are trained and willing to give rescue breaths, provide CPR with compressions and breaths according to your training. If you are not trained in rescue breaths, hands-only CPR is still meaningful care for a sudden adult collapse. Continue until the AED is ready to analyze or until the person shows clear signs of life.
When the AED arrives, remove or cut away clothing from the person’s chest. The chest must be bare and reasonably dry for the pads to adhere properly. If the person is wet, move them away from standing water and quickly dry the chest before placing pads.
If there is excessive chest hair where a pad must be placed, use the razor from the AED kit if available. The goal is to make sure the pads adhere firmly. Do not spend unnecessary time on preparation when CPR and AED analysis are needed.
Open the pad package and place the adhesive pads exactly as pictured on the pads or AED case. For most adults, place one pad on the upper right side of the chest and the other on the lower left side of the chest, below the armpit.
For a child, use pediatric pads if the unit provides them. If pediatric pads are not available, use adult pads rather than waiting. Pads should not touch or overlap. If needed, place one pad on the chest and one on the back, following the diagrams supplied with the AED.
Once the pads are attached, the AED will tell you when it is analyzing. Make sure no one is touching the person. Say clearly, “Clear,” and visually check that everyone has stepped back.
If the AED advises a shock, make certain no one is in contact with the person, then press the shock button if the device instructs you to do so. Some public-access AEDs deliver the shock automatically after providing a warning. In either case, follow the prompts.
After a shock is delivered, or if the AED says no shock is advised, restart CPR right away. Do not pause to look for a pulse or wait to see whether the person wakes up unless the AED or emergency dispatcher directs you to do so.
The AED will periodically ask you to stop CPR for another rhythm analysis. Continue this cycle of CPR, analysis, and any advised shocks until EMS takes over, the person begins breathing normally and responding, or you are physically unable to continue.
AEDs are built to guide rescuers, but several situations can create uncertainty. Knowing how to handle them keeps the response moving.
If the person has an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator, you may notice a small raised area beneath the skin near the upper chest. Do not place an AED pad directly over that device. Place the pad at least an inch away, following the pad diagram as closely as possible.
If the person wears a medication patch on the chest, remove it with a gloved hand if available and wipe the area before applying the pad. If the person is pregnant, use the AED as directed. Pregnancy is not a reason to withhold CPR or defibrillation during cardiac arrest.
Avoid using an AED in standing water or where flammable gases or fuels are present. Move the person only if it can be done quickly and safely. In most workplace settings, a dry floor and a clear area around the person are all that is needed.
An AED can only help if it is easy to locate, maintained, and supported by trained people. Employers should place units where employees, visitors, and customers can access them quickly, particularly in larger facilities, active work areas, fitness spaces, and locations where response times may be longer.
A workplace AED program should include a designated person or team to inspect each unit, confirm that batteries and pads are within their expiration dates, and verify that the device status indicator shows it is ready. The AED cabinet should be clearly marked and never blocked by equipment, boxes, or furniture.
Employers should also establish an emergency response plan. Employees need to know who calls 911, where AEDs are located, who meets first responders, and how incidents are documented afterward. After an AED is used, replace used pads and supplies promptly, arrange required service for the device, and give employees an opportunity to debrief.
AEDs provide prompts, but training gives people the confidence to respond without freezing. First Aid/CPR/AED training teaches participants how to identify cardiac arrest, perform effective CPR, safely use an AED, communicate with 911, and respond to other medical emergencies at work or in the community.
For employers, regular training is also part of a stronger safety culture. It demonstrates that employee wellbeing is more than a policy statement. The Safety Council of the Palm Beaches provides practical First Aid/CPR/AED instruction for individuals and organizations that want their teams prepared to act.
A well-marked AED, a practiced response plan, and one person willing to step forward can change what happens in the minutes before EMS arrives. Keep safety a priority by making sure your team knows where the AED is, when to use it, and how to begin.