Rescue SAM AED

WATCH: How to use a Rescue SAM AED 

Useful links

AED Locations - find your nearest AED, or register your device 

Tips & Troubleshooting 

• It is still safe to use a defibrillator in the rain- if you can move the patient to shelter do so- but do not delay care. It is important that the skin under the pads is dry for good pad contact and conduction of the shock through the chest and not across the skin.
• If the patient is hairy, use a razor to remove hair under the pads. This will promote adequate pad contact with the skin.
• In large breasted individuals, place the pad lateral/to the left breast to avoid breast tissue- this will reduce impedance (how hard it is to send the shock through the chest).
• Do not place the pads over implanted devices or topical patches (i.e for medication)
• The adult pads are suitable for people down to the age of 8 yrs old. If no paediatric pads are available it is advised to go ahead with the adult pads. Make sure they are not too close together or touching. If there is not enough space on the chest to ensure a safe distance between the pads- place them in the front-back (anterior-posterior) position.  One pad is placed on the upper back between the shoulder blades and the other is placed on the front of the chest slightly to the left of the sternum.
• The defibrillator unit will not charge a shock if the patient isn’t in a shockable rhythm (VF or VT)- therefore you cant accidently shock someone who doesn't require it.
• The unit will prompt to analyse every 2 min. It is advised to keep cycling through the CPR and shock delivery (if advised) until an Ambulance arrives or until you are too tired to continue. If there are people around ask for help in taking turns of doing the CPR.
• It is normal for the shock advice to change- it may go from shock not advised in the first cycle, to shock advised in the next- or vice versa.