What is an AED used for?

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is primarily designed to analyze the heart's rhythm and deliver shocks when necessary. In the event of a cardiac arrest, the heart may be in a rhythm that is not compatible with effective circulation, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The AED monitors the heart's electrical activity through pads placed on the chest and determines whether a shock is needed to restore a normal rhythm.

When the AED identifies a shockable rhythm, it provides audible and visual prompts to the user, indicating when to deliver a shock. This intervention can be critical in saving a life, as it helps to restart the heart's normal rhythm, allowing the heart to pump effectively once more. The other options listed, such as providing medication, supplying oxygen, or performing CPR automatically, do not accurately describe the AED's primary function. AEDs do not dispense medication or provide oxygen, nor do they perform CPR; instead, they serve specifically to assess and treat certain heart conditions through defibrillation.