| An AED is an external medical device that delivers | | | | tachycardia (VT), a rapid heartbeat that can occur |
| an electrical shock to the heart to restore a | | | | after fever, exercise, or nervous excitement. |
| normal heart rhythm in people who have suffered | | | | Sudden cardiac arrest can strike people of any |
| a specific type of cardiac arrest, known as | | | | age, race, or gender. For example, electrocution, |
| sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA is not the | | | | drowning, choking, and trauma can all disturb the |
| equivalent of a heart attack, nor are AEDs used | | | | heart's normal rhythm. Although certain individuals |
| to treat all heart conditions. Rather, AEDs are only | | | | are genetically predisposed to SCA, most people |
| indicated for the treatment of sudden cardiac | | | | who have this condition have no prior symptoms |
| arrest. | | | | or warning. Often, when you read about an |
| In the majority of cases, SCA is caused by | | | | apparently healthy young athlete collapsing during |
| ventricular fibrillation (VF), which is a complete lack | | | | a game, SCA is the cause. Still, the majority of |
| of heartbeat that can be fatal within minutes. | | | | SCAs do occur in older adult males. |
| However, SCA can also result from ventricular | | | | |