The Proper Way to Use AED Pads
You should learn how to use AED pads in today's day and age. The term AED means automatic external defibrillator and the pads come attached to an apparatus that will shock someone's heart when they become unresponsive. When you use the pads properly, you can save someone's life. And, while you may only know AED machines from hospital TV shows and movies, you will now find many of these machines in work places and schools. In fact, you may have to use one of these machines in the future to save someone you care about. This is why you should learn the right way to use them just in case.

Detailed Instructions

Most AED pads and machines come with instructions so that anyone can use them. The machines you find at work or in your child's school with usually come with pictures that describe how to use them properly. You will actually find the process quite easy. You simply place the two pads on the person's bare chest and it will then determine whether or not the person's heart is functioning properly. If the person needs it, the pads will give the person a shock which is designed to start the heart back up again.

Removing the Clothes

You cannot apply AED pads through a person's clothing, so you will have to bare the chest somehow. The skin must also be dry and free of jewelry, so dry the chest and remove any necklaces or piercings.

Where On the Chest Do You Place the Pads?

The AED machine's diagrams will show you exactly where the pads should be placed on the person's body. The right pad should be placed high on the right hand side and the left one should go just under the left nipple. If you notice the outline of the person's pacemaker or they have any piercings, you will want to move the AED pads away from these areas by at least an inch. These items may interfere with the device and that means it may not be as effective. You may have to remove the piercings first, but don't do that if it's going to take up too mcuh time. If AED pads are in use, it means that time is valuable and none should be wasted.

Listen to Your Machine

The machine will speak instructions the moment the AED pads are placed on the person's skin. If the machine tells you to 'check electrodes', and you seem to be doing everything correctly, it might mean that something is interfering. Check for piercings or a pacemaker as described above, or you may have to trim the person's chest hair so that the pads lay flat against the skin.

Always remember to keep your panic in check when using AED pads. The person you're helping needs your full attention and so you need to remain as calm as possible. The good news is that these automatic external defibrillators are extremely easy to use. With crystal clear instructions, diagrams and spoken prompts, they'll allow you to help anyone whose heart happens to give out on them.