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Learn About CPR and AEDs – 50,000
Lives a Year Depend on It
In the time it takes you to read this page, sudden cardiac arrest
will have claimed another victim. In the past year, 220,000 Americans
died of sudden cardiac arrest: nearly one death every two minutes. A
quarter of these deaths could have been prevented if someone had
initiated the Cardiac
Chain of Survival, and an automated external defibrillator (AED) had
been available for immediate use at the time of the emergency.
AEDs are easy-to-use, portable devices that deliver a potentially
lifesaving electric shock to the heart, which can restore a heart's
normal rhythm in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. Immediate use of an
AED, in conjunction with CPR, could save up to 50,000 lives a year. The
American Red Cross' dedication to increasing the public's knowledge of
the Cardiac Chain of Survival, and the need for public access to
defibrillation led to the development of a public service campaign
entitled Project Lifesaver: Increasing Public Access to
Defibrillation. Project Lifesaver is designed to help communities
plan and implement access to defibrillation programs by providing AED
education, training, support for state and federal AED legislation, as
well as urging communities to obtain AEDs. The American Red Cross
envisions every American being within four minutes of an AED and someone
trained to use it in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. To make this
possible, the American Red Cross is bringing life-saving AED training to
communities and companies like yours.
American Red Cross courses combine CPR training with instruction in
automated external defibrillation; the two skills needed to save the
life of a sudden cardiac arrest victim. Currently, AED training is an
integral part of our Adult CPR/AED and Standard First Aid courses. AED
Essentials, a module that can be added to any Red Cross CPR or first aid
program, is also available.
We invite you to learn more about the exciting technology and
training that could save the life of a family member, a friend or
possibly your own. Contact your local American Red Cross chapter for
more information.
The Cardiac Chain of Survival includes:
- early recognition and early activation
of 9-1-1 or the local emergency number;
- initiating CPR;
- early defibrillation using an automated
external defibrillator (AED) and
- early advanced life support.
Ordinary people save lives with
extraordinary technology! Read more...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)?
Sudden cardiac arrest cases are usually due to abnormal heart rhythms
called arrhythmias, the vast majority of which are ventricular
fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation is a condition in which the
heart's electrical impulses suddenly become chaotic, causing the heart
to cease pumping blood effectively. Victims of SCA collapse and quickly
lose consciousness, often without warning. Unless a normal heart rhythm
is restored, death will follow within a matter of minutes.
The cause of sudden cardiac arrest is not well understood. Many
victims have no history of heart disease, or if heart disease is
present, it has not functionally impaired them. Unlike a heart attack,
which is the death of muscle tissue from loss of blood supply, many
victims of SCA have no prior symptoms. SCA can strike anyone, at any
time, anywhere.
How common is SCA and who is at risk?
SCA is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It
strikes about 220,000 Americans each year: nearly one death every two
minutes.
What is the current treatment for
sudden cardiac arrest?
A series of four critical steps, called the "cardiac chain of
survival", have been identified for the treatment of sudden cardiac
arrest. All four steps of the chain must be present to help ensure
survival from sudden cardiac arrest. The third step, delivering an
electrical shock to the heart, which is known as defibrillation, is
recognized as the most critical step in restoring cardiac rhythm and
resuscitating a victim of SCA. The four steps are:
- Step one: Early access to care (calling
911 or another emergency number)
- Step two: Early cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR)
- Step three: Early defibrillation
- Step four: Early advanced cardiac life
support as needed
What is an automated external
defibrillator (AED)?
An AED is a device about the size of a laptop computer that analyzes the
heart's rhythm for any abnormalities and, if necessary, directs the
rescuer to deliver an electrical shock to the victim. This shock, called
defibrillation, may help the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm of
its own.
How does an AED work?
An AED is easy to operate. It uses voice prompts to instruct the
rescuer. Once the machine is turned on, the rescuer will be prompted to
apply two electrodes provided with the AED to the victim's chest. Once
applied, the AED will begin to monitor the victim's heart rhythm. If a
"shockable" rhythm is detected, the machine will charge itself
and instruct the rescuer to stand clear of the victim and to press the
shock button.
If an AED is so easy to use, why do I
need training?
Training is necessary in order to understand the role of defibrillation
in the broader context of the cardiac chain of survival. Training in CPR
and AED skills will enable the rescuer to use all the steps in the
cardiac chain of survival, thereby significantly increasing the victim's
chance of survival.
How can I get trained in the use of an
AED?
Contact your local
American Red Cross for a listing of training classes. The Red Cross
offers half-day courses that include CPR and AED skills and
comprehensive, daylong sessions that also include first aid. These
interactive courses are taught by certified Red Cross instructors and
use hands-on practice scenarios and videos that reflect a variety of
situations. Each participant receives a skills card for use during
in-class practice sessions. The skills cards can also aid in retaining
skills after completing the course and serves as a quick reference tool
in an emergency.
Who can use an AED?
In most cases, EMTs and first responders (police and firefighters) are
required to know how to use an AED as part of their job
responsibilities. Furthermore, all 50 states now have AED Good Samaritan
provisions that help protect laypersons that have been properly trained
to use these devices. Therefore, any lay person who has been trained to
use an AED may be afforded some protection under applicable AED Good
Samaritan provisions. Contact your local or state emergency medical
services ("EMS") department to find out about Good Samaritan
protections that your state provides for users of AEDs.
Where can I find AEDs?
AEDs can be found in corporate offices, shopping malls, airports, sports
stadiums, schools, community centers, and other places where large
groups of people gather and the risk of a sudden cardiac arrest incident
is very likely. The number of devices in the community will continue to
grow as more and more people begin to understand the importance of AEDs
and AED training.
Can I buy an AED for my workplace?
According to FDA rules, a physician prescription is needed in order to
purchase an AED. This means that the medical director of a facility or a
physician used by such facility must prescribe and oversee the AED
program at any workplace or other facility that houses an AED.
How much does an AED cost?
The cost of an AED varies by manufacturer and model. Currently, an
average price for a single AED unit is about $3,000.
Does the Red Cross sell AEDs?
No, but to help the Red Cross meet its mission of saving lives,
agreements have been established with AED manufacturers to allow Red
Cross chapters the opportunity to facilitate the purchase of AED units
and provide CPR and AED training to AED purchasers. Many chapters are
involved. If a chapter is not participating in coordination of the
purchase of AEDs, it can provide the purchaser with information on how
to obtain an AED.
What is public access to
defibrillation (PAD)?
Public access to defibrillation is the term used for an initiative that
makes AEDs available to the public by placing them in public and private
places where large numbers of people gather. A PAD program includes all
the steps necessary to get AEDs installed and people trained to use
them. Local government employees, businesses, non-profit organizations,
community organizations, schools and individuals can champion PAD
programs. For more information about starting up your own PAD program,
contact your local
Red Cross.
What are the major steps of a PAD
program?
The major steps of a PAD program are:
- Community assessment
- Determine the needs of your community. Are there any PAD programs
being implemented? What does your community already know about AEDs?
Where have AEDs already been placed? Has the media reported on AEDs
and their importance?
- Education/promotion
- Determine what are the best ways to educate the community about
the importance and need for public access to defibrillation. This
step may include presentations to schools or community
organizations, community outreach through newspaper, radio, or TV
public service announcements, and other methods. View
the American Red Cross public service announcement.
- Funding
- Determine how the necessary funds will be raised for the project.
Possible ideas include corporate sponsors, community fundraisers,
and grants.
- Legislation
- Understand the current laws concerning AED use in your state. View
a chart of state-by-state updates on AED legislation (download MS
Word file). Please consult with your legal advisor or
local or state EMS department for further information on the most
current AED legislation in your state.
- Implementation
- Create an implementation team. This team will manage the PAD
program. They will be responsible for working with other resources
to obtain medical direction (a prescription is required to purchase
an AED), determine the quantities and placement of AEDs, purchase
the AEDs, form a response team, make sure people are properly
trained to use the AEDs, and create a system for maintenance. Please
note that the Red Cross does not provide prescriptions for AEDs,
medical direction covering the use of an AED nor maintenance of AEDs.
How can I start a PAD program in my
community?
If you are interested in starting a PAD program in your own community,
but feel overwhelmed by the task, don't panic - you don't have to do it
alone. Contact your local
Red Cross chapter and together, you can save a life.
Related Sites
New! Emergency Cardiovascular Care
Update 2002, International Educational Conference will take place in
Washington, D.C., September 5-8, 2002. This conference, ECC
Education for All: A Monumental Opportunity, is being presented
by the Citizen CPR Foundation, Inc.
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View a Public Service
Announcement, produced especially for the American Red Cross,
about how AEDs save lives.
 .avi
file (6.43MB)
 .mov
file (10.06MB)
Please note that these video
files are large and will take a long time to download for viewers
accessing the Internet with a 56K or slower dial-up modem.
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