What is the purpose of an AED?

The purpose of an AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is to deliver a shock to a person's heart to restore a normal rhythm in cases of cardiac arrest. When someone experiences cardiac arrest, their heart may enter a life-threatening rhythm called ventricular fibrillation, which prevents effective blood circulation. The AED analyzes the heart's rhythm and, if it detects a shockable rhythm, it prompts the user to deliver an electric shock. This shock can interrupt the chaotic electrical activity and allow the heart to re-establish a normal rhythm, potentially saving the individual's life.

Other functions such as monitoring heart rate, diagnosing heart conditions, or providing CPR guidelines are not the primary purpose of an AED. While heart rate monitoring can be done with other devices, and CPR guidelines are important in conjunction with using an AED, the AED specifically functions to correct arrhythmias through defibrillation.