FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

No. You do not need training to use an AED.

AEDs are designed so that anyone can use them, even in a stressful situation. They give clear spoken instructions and pictures to guide you step by step.

If someone is in cardiac arrest, don’t be afraid to use an AED. It could save their life.

Yes, very safe.

An AED will only deliver a shock if one is needed. It checks the person’s heart rhythm first and will not shock someone unless it’s appropriate.

They are extremely unlikely to cause harm and are safe for both the person being treated and the person helping, as long as you follow the instructions.

An AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is a device used when someone’s heart stops because its electrical system has gone wrong.

The AED delivers a controlled electric shock that can help restart the heart’s normal rhythm.

AEDs are compact, portable, easy to use and guide the operator through the process with prompts and commands. The AED analyses precisely the individual’s heart rhythm and will only deliver a shock if it is required. 

It is extremely unlikely.

In the UK, there has never been a successful court case against someone for trying to save a life with CPR.

If you act in good faith and do your best to help, the law and the courts are on your side. They look positively on people who step in to help others in an emergency.