First Aid basics: how to use a defibrillator (AED)

In this series of videos, we will learn the basics and fundamental practices of First Aid.

First Aid is the first and immediate assistance given to any person suffering from either a minor or serious illness or injury, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or to promote recovery.

Here, St John Ambulance trainer Winston Marshall teaches us what a defibrillator (AED) is and how to put it to use.

Defibrillators are devices that restore a normal heartbeat by sending an electric pulse or shock to the heart. They are used to prevent or correct an arrhythmia, a heartbeat that is uneven, or that is too slow or too fast. Defibrillators can also restore the heart’s beating if the heart suddenly stops.

Different types of defibrillators work in different ways. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are made available in many public spaces, were developed to save the lives of people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Even untrained bystanders can use these devices in an emergency.

St John Ambulance is a volunteer-led, charitable non-governmental organisation dedicated to the teaching and practice of First Aid, and the support of the national emergency response system in England.

View the previous video in this series here.

View the original video here.

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