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Health TopicsFirst Aid, Safety & PreparednessFirst Aid For Medical Emergencies & Conditions
question

How do I use an AED on someone with a lot of chest hair?

American Red Cross
American Red Cross
answer
  • Press firmly on the pads to attach them to the chest.
  • If you get a "check pads" or similar message from the AED, remove
         the pads and replace them with new ones.
  • The pad adhesive may pull out some of the chest hair, which may
         solve the problem.
  • If you continue to get the "check pads" message, remove the pads,
         shave the person's chest where the pads should be placed, and
         attach new pads to the person's chest. (There should be spare
         defibrillation pads and a safety razor included in the AED kit.)
  • Be careful not to cut the person while shaving the chest, as cuts and
         scrapes can interfere with rhythm analysis.

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