What indicates the need for an AED during a cardiac event?

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is indicated during a cardiac event when an individual shows a lack of responsiveness and abnormal breathing. This combination suggests that the person may be experiencing a cardiac arrest, where the heart is not effectively pumping blood. The lack of responsiveness indicates that the brain is not receiving adequate blood flow, while abnormal breathing, such as gasping or not breathing at all, is a critical sign of an emergency that requires immediate intervention.

In such scenarios, timely use of an AED can restore normal heart rhythms and improve survival chances. The AED is designed to analyze the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock if a shockable rhythm, such as ventricular fibrillation, is detected. Recognizing the lack of responsiveness and abnormal breathing as vital signs of a severe cardiac event is essential for a first responder to take prompt action.

The other indicators—visible chest pain and shortness of breath, pale skin and low blood pressure, and high fever with vomiting—may point to serious medical conditions but do not specifically indicate the need for an AED, as they may not suggest the immediate risk of cardiac arrest that the lack of responsiveness and abnormal breathing do.