A neighbor EMT rushes to a collapsed patient with an AED. What is the first step?

• A. Turn on the AED
• B. Check for a pulse
• C. Begin rescue breaths
• D. Place pads on chest

Answer: (A)

Powering the AED on is the first move because the device can’t analyze heart rhythm or guide you through shocks until it’s on. Once it’s powered, you quickly place the pads as shown, then the device analyzes and tells you whether a shock is indicated. In the meantime, you should be performing high-quality CPR if the patient is unresponsive and not breathing, since CPR keeps blood flowing while the AED gets ready to analyze. The other actions—checking for a pulse or starting breaths—are important parts of CPR, but they don’t activate the AED’s guidance or shock capability. So turning the AED on first ensures you can follow its prompts and deliver any needed shocks promptly.