Guidance: Defibrillators

Resuscitation Council UK have published ‘Public access defibrillators: A guide for communities’, which gives full information about the use of AEDs in the community. We encourage you to read this, as it will answer your questions in more detail.

A sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) occurs because the normal electrical rhythm that controls the heart is abruptly replaced by a chaotic, disorganised electrical rhythm, which means the heart is no longer able to pump blood around the body.

An AED delivers a high-energy electric shock to an individual in SCA with the aim of restoring the heart’s normal rhythm. AEDs are compact, portable, easy to use and guide the operator through the process with prompts and commands. The AED precisely analyses the individual's heart rhythm and will only deliver a shock if it is required. 

AEDs are very reliable and will not allow a shock to be given unless it is needed. They are extremely unlikely to do any harm to a person who has collapsed in suspected sudden cardiac arrest. They are safe to use and present minimal risk to the rescuer. These features make them suitable for use by members of the public with little or no training. 
 

Public Access Defibrillators are AEDs that are placed in a location that allows members of the public to access and use them. AEDs can now be found in many public places, including airports, mainline railway stations, shopping centres, and gyms. They are meant to be used by members of the public if they witness a cardiac arrest.

When calling the emergency services, the call handler will tell you where the nearest rescue-ready PAD is located, which is registered on The Circuit (the national defibrillator network). 

Locations of registered PAD’s are stored on the national defibrillator network, The Circuit, with locations visible on the defib finder map. This can be useful for planning locations of PAD’s and being familiar with your area. However, in an emergency, calling 999 is key to summoning help. The ambulance service call handler will let you know where the nearest PAD is and how to access it.

RCUK and the BHF have designed a sign that many public spaces equipped with a PAD can use to signpost the PAD’s location. Staff working at the location should also know the location of a nearby AED.

AEDs have been designed so that they can be used by people with little or no training. The AED will give clear, spoken instructions and use visual illustrations to guide users through the process. Lack of training should not be a barrier to someone using one. If a person is in cardiac arrest, do not be afraid to use an AED, as it could save their life. 

Yes, it is usually safe to use an AED on an individual who is lying on a metallic, wet or other conductive surface. If the self-adhesive pads are applied correctly, and provided there's no direct contact between the user and the individual when the shock is delivered, there is no direct pathway that electricity can take that would cause the user to experience a shock. If the individual is wet, their chest should be dried so that the self-adhesive AED pads will stick properly. 

Although shockable rhythms in children are rare, they do happen, and rapid action saves lives. Start high‑quality CPR immediately and call for expert help. If an AED is the only device available, use it on any age group.

For all children under eight, the Paediatric Resuscitation Guidelines 2025 recommend using a paediatric‑attenuated shock setting when available, but don’t delay defibrillation if it isn’t. 

Yes. Fortunately, cardiac arrest is rare in pregnancy, but if it were to occur, it is quite appropriate to use an AED. The procedure is the same as in the non-pregnant woman, but it is important to place the pads clear of enlarged breast tissue. 

Fortunately, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in school-age children is rare. Resuscitation attempts at schools are more likely to be made on an adult (staff member or visitor) than a pupil. The presence of an AED at a school, therefore, provides potential benefit for everyone present at the site or local community.

The Department for Education has provided guidance and funding to ensure all schools across England have access to AEDs. Resuscitation Council UK recommends that school-based AEDs are made accessible to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ideally by placing them on school gates so they can be used by the whole community rather than being locked inside school buildings.  

If you think an AED should be installed in your workplace, read Public access Defibrillators: A guide for communities written by RCUK, as this will answer your questions in detail. If you wish to proceed, contact your local ambulance service for further advice as described in the guide. 

Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) advises that only the AED and associated equipment should be stored within the cabinet. Most AED cabinets are designed to store only the AED. The inclusion of additional items has the potential to distract from the provision of CPR or defibrillation.