The automated external defibrillator

International guidelines 2000 for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiac care Healthcare workers with a duty to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be trained, equipped, and authorised to perform defibrillation Public access defibrillation should be established: * When the frequency of cardiac arrest is such that there is a reasonable probability of the use of an AED within five years * When a paramedic response time of less than five minutes cannot be achieved * When the AED can be delivered to the patient within five minutes Early schemes to provide defibrillators in public places have reported favourable results. N Eng J Med 2000;343: 1206-9 Roy Liddle is resusitation training officer at Wythenshaw Hospital, Manchester; Sian Davies is programme manager for the National Defibrillator Programme, London The ABC of Resuscitation was edited by Michael Colquhoun, senior lecturer in prehospital care, Wales Heart Research Institute, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff ( colquhoun@bishopsfrome.u-net.com Anthony J Handley, senior research fellow, Prehospital Emergency Research Unit, University of Wales College of Medicine, and Tom Evans, consultant cardiologist, Royal Free Hospital, London The diagram of the algorithm for the use of AEDs is adapted from Resuscitation Guidelines 2000, London: Resuscitation Council (UK), 2000.