Learn About AEDs

Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Sales

When a life is on the line, every second counts. Don't let your organization or community be caught unprepared. Many organizations have benefited the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter's services when adding AEDs to their facility. Red Cross staff, with over seven years of experience, will provide your organization personal assistance when it comes to implementing an AED program.

Are you looking for resources to help place AEDs within your organization? Take the first step - don't tackle this alone - let the Red Cross make it easy.

Obtain valuable information to implement an AED program in your organization.
Learn how this lifesaving tool combined with the AED training can protect your most valuable assets - your employees/members/students.
Learn how the American Red Cross, the leading provider of AED training and services, can provide personal assistance from start to finish. This free service includes step-by-step plans and resources for implementing an AED program, plus the facilitation of the purchase of AEDs, associated accessories and long-term follow up.
See demonstrations of AEDs made by several major manufacturers. Your organization can choose the model that best fits your needs.
Hear about the new training methods, products and resources to enhance safety in your workplace.

Click here for a demo of the OnSite/Home AEDs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an AED?
What is sudden cardiac arrest?
Does cardiac arrest really happen in the workplace, at a church, synagogue, or school?
Who in my company/organization would use the AED? Is it complicated to operate?
What does AED training involve?
Does an AED increase my risk of liability?
How do I learn more?

What is an AED?
AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator. An AED is a portable, lightweight device about the size of a laptop. An AED automatically analyzes the heart’s rhythm, and if necessary, prompts the user to deliver a shock to the victim of sudden cardiac arrest. This shock, called defibrillation, helps the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm of its own. During its analysis, if the AED does not find it necessary to deliver a shock, the user will be prompted to attend to the patient and give CPR, if needed. AEDs are reliable, portable, durable, easy to use and maintain.

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What is sudden cardiac arrest?
Sudden cardiac arrest kills 220,000 Americans each year. More than 90 percent of these deaths occur outside the hospital setting. Unlike a heart attack, in which blood flow to the heart muscle is temporarily blocked, the primary cause of sudden cardiac arrest is ventricular fibrillation, a life threatening condition in which the heart's normal electrical signals become erratic, causing the heart to cease pumping blood effectively. When this occurs, the victim immediately becomes unresponsive, stops breathing, has no detectable signs of circulation, and, without intervention, will die within minutes.

Early defibrillation is the only treatment for sudden cardiac arrest. Defibrillation restores the heart's natural rhythm by applying electrical shocks with an automated external defibrillator (AED). Published studies indicate that survival rates from ventricular fibrillation can exceed 70 percent if defibrillation is administered within the first few minutes of sudden cardiac arrest. The chances of survival decrease by approximately ten percent with each minute that passes following sudden cardiac arrest. The average response time for emergency personnel is more than ten minutes, resulting in an average survival rate of less than five percent. Therefore, the use of an AED within the first few minutes is vital for survival.

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Does cardiac arrest really happen in the workplace, at a church, synagogue, or school?
Yes. Approximately one American dies of sudden cardiac arrest every two minutes. A quarter of these deaths could have been prevented if an AED had been available for immediate use at the time of emergency. Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone - male or female, young or old - at any time, anywhere.

AEDs are now becoming more available in a wide range of settings including airplanes, office buildings, industrial plants, golf courses, cruise ships, and places of worship. In the last few years, some states have passed laws to place AEDs in schools, fitness centers and nursing homes.

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Who in my company/organization would use the AED? Is it complicated to operate?
The American Red Cross can train all of your employees/members on how to use an AED. Some organizations will train a representative group of people from throughout their facility to ensure quick availablity and response at the time of any emergency. To many people, learning to operate an AED is easier than learning CPR. Voice prompts guide the user from the time the AED is turned on until Advanced Medical assistance arrives.

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What does AED training involve?
American Red Cross is a nationally recognized provider of lifesaving training. The Adult CPR/AED training course is designed especially for the lay rescuer. This course meets the minimum state requirements for having an AED at your location. The course is OSHA compliant and provides the participant with the knowledge and hands-on skills to provide immediate assistance during a breathing emergency, including CPR and the use of the AED. AED training units to match many of the AED models are available to give participants a realistic training experience. This course is also available as an online option known as Blended Learning where a portion of the course is implemented online.

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Does an AED increase my risk of liability?
Both State and Federal laws require those who have AEDs to train expected users in adult CPR and the use of an AED. All states have passed Good Samaritan laws to provide immunity for the AED user. In many cases, the organization purchasing the AED and the person providing the CPR and AED training receive immunity as well. Check with your state for specific requirements or contact the American Red Cross.

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How do I learn more?
For more information contact Dana Garner at (314) 516-2730.

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