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History of AEDs
The Early Days of Defibrillation
Defibrillation, the process of using an electric shock to restore a normal heart rhythm was first attempted in 1775 by a Dutch veterinarian named Peter Abildgaard. In his earliest experiments, he used electric shocks, to stop and then start the heart of a chicken.
An AED is simple to use
Begin by turning on the AED. The device will give you step-by-step voice instructions explaining what to look for and how to position the electrode pads on the person's chest.
When the pads are in place, the AED will automatically analyize the person's heart rhythm and determines if a shock is needed.
If needed, the machine instructs the user to stand clear and push the shock button to deliver the shock.
The AED will NOT deliver a shock if it is not needed.
Today's AEDs
Today’s automated external defibrillators are capable of assessing heart rhythms, coaching users in real time, and administering automatic or semi-automatic shocks. We take for granted how intuitive these devices are, but it’s been a long and complicated journey from zapping chickens to defibrillation-on-demand. The complete history of AEDs is complex and compelling.