An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device used to assist someone who may be suffering from a heart attack or an abnormality in his heart rhythm. An AED trainer is a similar device, except it is used to teach people how to properly use an AED before such a need arises. An AED trainer is computerized with commands that guide a person through the training process and the use of the machine. Some come with various scenarios that can be programmed into the equipment, so the person receiving the training can practice using the machine under different circumstances and with different types of patients suffering from different medical conditions.
AEDs are standard life-saving equipment. They are often found in public places such as parks and at swimming pools, and many restaurants and hotels have them available and clearly labeled on their walls in case an emergency should arise. They are not complicated machines, but the use of an AED trainer when there is no emergency can make the use of an AED even less complicated when time and capabilities matter most.
If needed, an AED will deliver a short but powerful shock to the chest to attempt to return a person’s heart to a normal rhythm following a cardiac episode. You can’t shock a person with a real AED just for practice, so an AED trainer that simulates a real AED — minus the shock — can be a help, especially when used in tandem with a mannequin designed for use in such first aid training. An AED trainer comes with reusable adhesive electrode pads with a low-level adhesive so they can be used over and over again while learning. All of an AED trainer’s buttons and commands are identical to the real thing, the only difference being that they do not actually shock the heart.
An AED trainer will direct the person responding to the emergency situation about how and where to place the electrode pads on the person’s chest; it will then analyze the patient’s heart rhythm to determine if a shock is needed. If a shock is required, the real AED will charge itself, deliver the shock to the chest, and continue to analyze the heart rhythms. The AED trainer will simulate the shock but not actually deliver any harmful pulses of electricity. Some equipment is designed so the person learning to use it can only advance in training after successfully following the machine’s instructions. Failure to place the electrode pads properly or follow other instructions will result in the need to repeat the lesson.
The proper use of an AED is now a standard part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first-aid training. Knowing how to correctly operate an AED may save a life, and they are very easy to use with only a little training. Information about first aid classes that include practice with an AED trainer can be found at many community centers, or you can check the Red Cross website for classes and training in your area. Classes usually only take a few hours and are relatively inexpensive.
