CPR and AED are two different actions to take when trying and save someone’s life. When a person goes into cardiac arrest, their heart stops beating. That means that within a few minutes of their vital organs not receiving oxygenated blood, that person will lose their life. Some options for saving their life include performing CPR and using and AED. Although they are both covered in the same training course, they are definitely not the same thing.
CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. CPR is a manual heartbeat. Don’t get confused operating a manual vehicle is different than a manual heartbeat. By performing chest compressions, you are manually pumping the blood to a person’s vital organs and by including breaths in the CPR process, you are oxygenating their blood. CPR is a process. It consists of 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths on a repeated cycle. Before performing CPR or using an AED, be sure to call 911.
AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator. An AED is a machine that sends an electric shock through a person’s body to try restart their heart. It is an essential aid in the CPR process. The major difference between CPR and an AED is that CPR has very, very little chance of bringing someone back to life after cardiac arrest, while an AED has the potential to restart their heart and brain functions. AED devices can be found in most public places. Once it is turned on, it will walk the rescuer through the process of using the machine. It’s so easy you could use an AED with your eyes closed, but that isn’t really recommended.
CPR may be more widely known, but an AED is just as important in the life saving process. In an ideal situation, or as ideal as a cardiac arrest situation can be, a rescuer will have bystanders to aid in the steps of the lifesaving process. CPR and an AED are not the same thing but go hand- in- hand when saving someone’s life. A manual heartbeat and electric shock both work towards the same goal to revitalize the cardiac arrest victim.