What is an AED?
AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator. This portable device can give an electrical shock to a heart in cardiac arrest, helping it to regain a normal rhythm.

The difference between cardiac arrest and circulatory arrest
In common parlance, people often speak of a ‘cardiac arrest’, but medically, it is usually a circulatory arrest. In this case, the heart stops pumping, often due to atrial fibrillation (chaotic trembling of the ventricles). This stops blood circulation, meaning muscles, organs, and the brain no longer receive oxygen. This can lead to permanent damage within just a few minutes.
An AED increases the chance of survival during cardiac arrest
Every minute without help decreases the chance of survival from cardiac arrest by 10%. If bystanders manage to start resuscitation and connect an AED within 6 minutes, they significantly increase that chance of survival!