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If someone is unresponsive and is not breathing normally—or is only gasping—call 911 or your local emergency number, send someone to get an automated external defibrillator (AED), and begin CPR. When the AED arrives, turn it on and follow its spoken instructions. Keep everyone clear while it analyzes the heart rhythm or delivers a shock, then resume CPR immediately when prompted.
What a public defibrillator does
An AED is a portable device that checks a person’s heart rhythm and advises whether a shock is appropriate. It will not recommend a shock for every collapse. Its voice prompts and pad diagrams guide a lay rescuer through the process, but the device does not replace emergency services or CPR. Call for help and start CPR rather than waiting for an AED to arrive.
The American Heart Association reported that more than 350,000 U.S. adults experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year. Its September 8, 2026 article also reported that bystanders give CPR about 40% of the time, and that about one in eight people with cardiac arrest in a public setting receive a shock from a bystander using an AED. These are AHA-reported figures, not a prediction of what will happen in an individual emergency. American Heart Association: What is an AED? How to use one during a cardiac arrest
What to do first
- Check for danger. Make sure it is safe to approach. Check whether the person responds and is breathing normally. Gasping is not normal breathing.
- Call emergency services. Call 911 in the United States, or your local emergency number. Ask someone nearby to get an AED and, if possible, another person to meet responders and guide them to the scene. If you are alone, call and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
- Start CPR. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally or is only gasping, begin CPR. Do not pause CPR while someone goes to retrieve an AED. If another rescuer is available, have them take over CPR when the AED arrives so you can prepare the device.
For adult CPR guidance, the American Heart Association advises pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest at 100 to 120 compressions per minute, allowing the chest to return to its normal position between compressions. Follow dispatcher instructions if you are unsure what to do. American Heart Association: Treatment of Cardiac Arrest
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- Included Components: Heartstart Onsite Aed Defibrillator, Battery, Adult Smart Pads Cartridge, Setup
How to use the AED step by step
- Turn on the AED. Open the case and switch on the device; some models turn on when you open the lid. Follow its voice prompts from the start.
- Expose and prepare the chest. Remove clothing covering the chest or pad locations. The pads must stick to bare skin. If the chest is wet, wipe it dry before applying the pads.
- Apply the pads as shown. Peel off the backing and press each pad firmly onto the bare skin, using the pictures on the pads as your guide. For adults, the Red Cross describes one pad on the upper right chest and the other on the lower left chest, a few inches below the armpit. If the pads might touch, it describes placing one in the middle of the chest and the other on the back between the shoulder blades. Follow the diagrams and spoken prompts for the AED you have.
- Connect the cable if the AED requires it. Some devices have pads already connected; others prompt you to plug in the pad cable. Follow the device’s instructions.
- Clear the person for analysis. When the AED says it is analyzing, make sure nobody is touching the person. Say “clear” loudly and look to confirm that rescuers and bystanders have moved away. The AED needs to analyze without contact.
- Give a shock only if directed. If the AED advises a shock, make sure everyone is clear. On a semi-automated AED, press the shock button when the device tells you to. A fully automated AED may deliver the shock itself after warning you. Follow the prompts for that model; no one should touch the person during shock delivery.
- Resume CPR immediately. Restart CPR as soon as the AED tells you to, whether it delivered a shock or says no shock is advised. Keep following its prompts, including any instruction to pause for another rhythm analysis.
Continue until the person starts moving or breathing normally, emergency personnel take over, or the AED instructs you to do something else. American Red Cross: AED Steps | How to Use an AED Correctly
Keep everyone clear at the right moments
- Do not touch the person while the AED analyzes the rhythm.
- Before a shock, check that rescuers, bystanders, and anyone else are clear of the person. Follow the AED’s warnings and prompts.
- Resume CPR when instructed. If the device says no shock is advised, that does not mean the person no longer needs care.
- Keep emergency services involved and follow the dispatcher’s directions, even when an AED is available.
Children, training, and preparation
Children and infants
The Red Cross adult pad-placement guidance cited above also covers a non-breathing child aged 8 or older who weighs more than 55 pounds. It does not establish the same pad placement or procedure for infants or smaller children. If the person is a child or infant, follow the AED and dispatcher instructions and use pediatric pads or settings only if the device provides and directs you to use them.
Rank #2
- Philips HeartStart Home and OnSite AED Defibrillator Long Life Replacement Battery, a back-up power source for your Philips HeartStart FRx, OnSite or Home defibrillator
- A high-quality, disposable, lithium manganese dioxide battery with a five-year shelf life (four-year lifespan once installed)
- Make sure your Philips device is always ready by having a spare or replacement battery to hand
- What’s in the box: 1 Philips HeartStart Long Life LiMN02 Replacement Battery
- Please contact Philips directly with any questions regarding the performance or operation of your HeartStart products. Replacements are permitted for warranty purposes only
Training is useful, but not a prerequisite
The FDA and Red Cross recommend learning CPR and AED use, but do not wait for training before helping. Public-access AEDs are designed to guide lay rescuers with prompts. A recognized CPR/AED course can help you act more confidently; the Red Cross offers CPR/AED training and course information at American Red Cross CPR classes.
For organizations that maintain an AED
Facility operators should use the FDA’s information to distinguish devices intended for public access from those intended for professional use, and to understand that pads and batteries are system accessories subject to regulation. Keep compatible pads and batteries available for the specific device, and maintain it according to its instructions. U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
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Rank #4
- Philips HeartStart M5066A-R01 OnSite AED Defibrillator is a virtually ready to use emergency medical device for cases of suspected sudden cardiac arrest
- A portable heart defibrillator in a convenient carry case with pre-installed spare pads and cartridge; provides real-time CPR instructions and step-by-step voice prompts
- Suitable for emergency use in all public environments including restaurants, offices, gyms, and airports and businesses of any size.
- Training not required for use. Device provides simple, intuitive instructions for people who have never used a defibrillator
- Philips defibrillators perform a daily, weekly and monthly self-test to eliminate the need for manual calibration. May be converted to an AED trainer with the use of Adult or Infant/Child Training Pads Cartridge (sold separately)
Rank #3
- 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗗𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘: Secure both your AED & First Aid Kit in this wall mount compatible storage with reinforced door. Durable, visible, & accessible ensuring quick access during emergencies.
- 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛-𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗘: Includes 'AED' & 'First Aid' sign for visibile identification. Ensure first responders and/or bystanders can quickly locate emergency supplies in any setting.
- 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗔𝗟 𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘: Easily installs on any wall for visibility & convenience. For use in homes, offices, gyms, schools, warehouses, & public spaces. Holds AED kits up to 13″W x 12″H x 7″D.
- 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗬 𝗗𝗨𝗧𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: Reinforced with 22 gauge, powder-coated, corrosion-resistant steel for long-lasting durability in high-traffic spaces. Features clear acrylic window to ensure contents are visible.
- 𝗢𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗠: Sounds when door is opened to alert responders and authorities in the area. Can be armed or disarmed with keyed switch, making it versatile for any environment. Two keys included.
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