How to Use an AED

AED defibrillator wall unit

A common fixture in Texas schools, AEDs are there to help in an emergency, so learning how and when to use them matters

When a person's heart stops beating, called sudden cardiac arrest, an automated external defibrillator (AED) can shock the heart back into rhythm. AEDs can increase their chance of survival when minutes matter. Texas law says that all public and charter schools must have an AED on-site to protect kids, teachers and any visitors who may experience cardiac arrest.

"We need to be proactive about educating everyone in the schools about how and when to use AEDs," said Sarah Thieroff, Project ADAM Texas Program Coordinator with Cook Children's Heart Center. "Project ADAM assists schools with training and resources to make this happen."

Cardiac arrest can occur suddenly even when a child has no history of heart issues. Making sure parents and schools know how and when to use AEDs is the best way to save lives in those unexpected emergencies.

Locate AEDs in schools and learn the drill

To find out where the AED is in your child's school, contact the school nurse. Ask them to host an official AED and CPR training to teach all faculty and staff at the school how they can save lives in an emergency.

"As a parent, you are the most powerful advocate for your child to make sure their school is prepared," Thieroff said. "My call to action to parents everywhere is talk to your child's school nurse and to their principal and ask "Do we have an emergency AED plan in place? Is there a CPR/AED-trained emergency response team? Have we done an AED drill?"

Parents can also remind the school that Project ADAM at Cook Children's offers free AED and CPR training to schools in the metroplex.

When and how to use an AED

If you see someone collapse and believe they're in cardiac arrest:

Recognize the symptoms: Is there a heartbeat? Are they breathing?
Call 911.
Begin CPR.
Open and turn on the AED.
Follow the spoken prompts to apply and use the AED.

How can your school become a designated Project ADAM Texas Heart Safe School? Easy! Contact Sarah Thieroff, Project ADAM Texas Program Coordinator at 682-885-6755 or ProjectAdamTexas@cookchildrens.org.