"Hello, is there 120? There is someone who has no breathing and heartbeat. The address is..." The doctor at the Dispatching Command Center of Beijing Emergency Center heard the anxious voice through the telephone line. "Don't worry. I have dispatched an ambulance. I will instruct you on how to do CPR. Is there an AED nearby? If so, you need to send someone to get it immediately..." The dispatching doctor immediately gave instructions on the phone. This conversation often happens in 120 emergency calls. What exactly is the AED mentioned by the dispatchers?

——What is AED?

AED, the automatic external defibrillator, is a first aid tool that can automatically detect the heart rhythm and restore the heartbeat from abnormal to normal with a rapid electric shock.

——Where is AED?

At present, many large cities with huge flows of visitors in China are equipped with AEDs. AEDs are mainly distributed in large airports, high-speed railway stations, subway stations, conference centers, and stadiums.

——What can AED do?

The golden rescue time after a cardiac arrest is 4 minutes. If someone has a sudden cardiac arrest, the first aid equipment AED available to the public, combined with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, can double the success rate of rescue of cardiac arrest.

——How to use AED?

You could use the AED by "following what it says". AED is equipped with voice prompts for each step and screen display. People could just follow the prompts.

After turning on the power, the instrument will beep. The user could follow the voice prompts and the prompts on the display screen to paste the electrodes (one on the upper right chest wall below the collarbone, and the other on the outside of the left nipple) for the patient. The next step is to insert the electrode plug into the jack of the AED host, and the AED will automatically analyze the heart rhythm. If defibrillation is recommended, the user should make sure that no one is in contact with the patient and press the electrode key. After a defibrillation, the cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be continued immediately and repeatedly until the arrival of the emergency personnel. If defibrillation is not suggested, people should continue the cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

This year, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission requires AEDs equipped at all levels and types of schools. In addition, guidance maps for location of AED will be posted in obvious locations. The popularization and use of AED are being promoted in Beijing. Citizens should learn first-aid knowledge, master first-aid skills, and "save lives" when an accident occurs.