An AED talks you through itand it is built for you.

The steps the AHA prints on its own flyer

• Turn on the AED and follow the voice prompts
• Remove clothing covering the chest, and dry the chest if needed
• Peel the backing from the pads and place them on bare skin as the illustration shows
• Plug in the pads connector if the device needs it
• Let the AED analyze, and make sure nobody is touching the person while it does
• Give a shock only if the device says to, with nobody touching the person, then resume compressions immediately
• Continue until emergency medical personnel arrive

Why minutes matter

The AHA states that a person’s chance of surviving drops by 7% to 10% for every minute a normal heartbeat is not restored, and that CPR and AED use can double or even triple the chance of survival.

Finding one without a map

The most reliable way to locate an AED in an emergency is to stay on the line with the dispatcher and ask. Sending a second person to fetch it while a first person starts compressions keeps both things happening at once. Public registries such as PulsePoint AED exist, and local emergency services often maintain their own.

Why this program does not publish an AED map

A stale AED location is a life-safety problem, not a data-quality problem: someone runs to a cabinet that is empty. The Foundation links to registries maintained by the organizations that can keep them current, and teaches the durable skill instead.