AED FAQs
AED Course Frequently Asked Questions
Q Is there a minimum age for receiving training in the use of this equipment, bearing in mind that the age for a junior diver within BSAC is 12yrs old ?
A The minimum age for doing the course is 12 years old. The standard equipment can be used on casualties as young as 8 years old.
Q Are all makes and models of AED the same and does the course train you to use any model of AED ?
A All AEDs work in a very similar way and the ones that are suitable for use in the diving environment are not special in this respect, they are just the most waterproof and robust of those available. The Course will train you to use any AED.
Q Will the course be available to snorkellers as well as divers ?
A The course will be available to anyone regardless of diver grade who is trained in current Basic Life Support procedures. So the course can be attended by divers snorkellers and non-diving friends and family members, as well as members of the public if branches wish to run a course for them.
Q Who can teach the course ? I am an Open Water Instructor and received training at work recently in the use of an AED, can I teach the course ?
A If you have done the AED training within the last year and it was to the Resuscitation Council (UK) 2005 standard then you can become an AED instructor by assisting on a course. This will familiarise you with the BSAC materials and information about using the AED in diving situations, which your work course probably did not include.
Q Can anyone buy an automated external defibrillator (AED)?
A Anyone is able to buy an AED regardless of whether they have done a course or not, however the BSAC course gives important information about choosing a machine for use in diving which many other courses do not include. This will help anyone thinking of buying a machine choose one that is suitable for where they plan to use it.
Q Can you harm someone by giving a shock when they do not need it?
A If someone is given a shock by a defibrillator when they do not need it, it can be potentially lethal by causing the heart to stop. However the sophisticated electronics of an AED make it impossible to give a shock if it is not needed and may be harmful.
Q Can an AED make mistakes?
A No equipment is infallible, however AEDs have very sophisticated software and if the machine is used properly it is unlikely that such mistakes could make the condition of a casualty any worse.
Q If AEDs are so easy to use, why do divers need formal training on how to use them?
A The usefulness of an AED and basic life support procedures generally depends on these being started promptly. The speed and efficiency of a rescue and resuscitation will be greatly improved by training and practice.
Q Can we get a grant to help purchase an AED?
A There are a number of medical charities which provide grants for the purchase of AEDs. The grant schemes and criteria vary from time to time but a consistent requirement is that the people who are likely to use the machine should have formal training and regular updating of that training.
Q What if I’m not certain whether or not I need to use an AED?
A The training course will explain when an AED should be used. Basically any casualty who is unresponsive and not breathing normally should have the pads of an AED applied as soon as possible. The machine will then indicate whether it is necessary to administer a shock.
Q How many divers would be saved every year if AED were more widely available?
A It is difficult to quantify with certainty how many lives could be saved. However current guidelines advise that an AED is likely to be of benefit when the frequency of cardiac arrest is such that there is a reasonable probability of the use of an AED at least once in two years and the time from call out of the conventional ambulance service to delivery of a shock cannot reliably be achieved within 5 minutes.
Q Are they useful for diving casualties or just for people who have heart attacks ?
A An AED is of benefit for anyone who suffers with a cardiac arrest from any cause. A common cause of this in the general population is heart attack and this has been the focus of many public health measures, however diving casualties may suffer a cardiac arrest from many other causes all of which are likely to be helped by the availability of an AED.
Page last modified: 3rd May 2007 - 18:52:09