To get AED certification, complete a training course and pass a written and/or hands-on assessment. Consider your reason for certification and ensure the course is accepted by your employer or higher-level medical training program. Learn how to use and care for both types of AEDs, coordinate defibrillation with CPR, and understand when to use the AED first.
To obtain Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification, you will need to satisfactorily complete a training course, after which you must pass a written assessment, a hands-on assessment, or both. Training courses leading to AED certification include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes for adults or children, first aid classes, and online courses in AED operation. You should consider your reason for earning the AED certification before enrolling in a training program. If you need certification to meet a requirement from your employer or as a prerequisite for basic life support (BLS) training, make sure the course you take will lead to a certification that will be accepted by your employer or a certification program. higher-level medical training that you plan to pursue. An AED certification that you can print out after completing an online test is generally not acceptable for entry into higher-level medical training programs.
Completing a class or course leading to AED certification usually involves attending in person or online to receive instruction on the purpose, use, and care of both types of AEDs – the fully automated AED and the semi-automatic AED. . There is little difference between the two versions; basically, the semi-automatic version requires the operator to press a button to deliver a shock if a shockable rhythm is analyzed. The fully automated version will deliver the shock to you if indicated. Persons who have received AED certification must also understand the importance of keeping equipment and batteries charged.
Among the things you can expect to learn and practice during AED certification training are when and how to use the equipment, as well as when its use is contraindicated. You should be instructed on the use of an AED in adults, children, and victims who have surgically implanted cardiac devices, such as a pacemaker or nitroglycerin patch. Unless you are taking an online class, expect hands-on mannequin practice with adult and child mannequins and a hands-on AED. The course should also expose you to a real AED.
People who are AED certified should also know how to coordinate defibrillation with CPR, because this is the normal course of action for a victim in cardiac arrest. It is important to understand when to start CPR first and when to use the AED first. That’s why your course should cover at least the basics of the heart’s mechanical and electrical system. You would have at least a rudimentary understanding of shockable and non-shockable rhythms.
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