Often we hear that AEDs have been made so simple and automatic that even a child can operate one. This may be true to some extent, but recognizing sudden cardiac arrest and knowing procedures to follow and cautions to observe when deploying an AED will ensure the best possible outcome for a rescue attempt.
In this FAQ, we specifically cover common questions related to proper AED pad placement.
Related Products discussed in this article: AED Pads, AED machines.
Table of Contents
- Do I turn on the AED before placing pads?
- Does AED pad placement matter?
- How do I place AED pads?
- Can you use pediatric AED pads on an adult?
- Can you use adult AED pads on a child?
- Where on a victim’s Chest do you place AED pads?
- Can you Place an AED pad over an implanted device?
- What happens if AED pads are reversed?
- Where do you place AED pads on a woman?
- Where do you apply AED pads to an infant?
- What happens if AED pads touch?
- What should I do if I don’t have pediatric AED pads?
- How do you remove AED pads?
Do I turn on the AED before placing pads?
Yes, you should turn on the AED before placing pads. Some AEDs turn on automatically as soon as the lid is opened (lifted), while others have a power button. You will also be instructed by the AED through audio and/or visual instructions to place the pads on the victim.
Does AED pad placement matter?
Yes! Proper AED pad placement is crucial for the AED to analyze the victim’s heart function and shock it as needed.
How do I place AED pads?
- Expose the victim’s chest. Before applying pads, remove clothing, jewelry, bras, etc.
- Moisture, be it water, sweat, etc. may defeat the function of the AED. Wipe off the victim’s chest (and back) if needed; remove any hair from the pad placement skin.
- Peel off the backing that comes with the AED Pads.
- PAD #1: goes on the right side of the chest near but under the collar bone.
- PAD #2 goes on the lower left side of the chest.
- Connect the pads to the AED.
- Be sure to apply the pads according to any pictures shown on them or the AED scre
Can you use pediatric AED pads on an Adult?
NO! Pediatric pads are not sufficient in size or electrical energy to properly analyze and/or shock the adult heart with a defibrillator.
Can you use adult AED pads on a child?
YES! Even though adult pads are larger and deliver a stronger shock they can still be used on a child, but ONLY if child-size pads are not available. It is still better to give an “adult-size shock” to a child than no shock at all.
Where on a victim’s chest do you place AED pads?
Adult Pad Placement
AEDs are typically designed for adults, delivering 150-360 Joules of electricity when giving a shock. They come with full-sized electrode pads. Generally, the right side of the patient’s chest, below the clavicle, is the location for the first pad. The lower left side of the victim’s chest is where the second pad is placed. Notice from the diagram below that the second pad is placed more to the side of the torso.
This standard placement of adult pads is referred to as “anterior-lateral” placement. Again, this means that one pad will be placed above the victim’s right-hand nipple, just below the clavicle (collar bone). The other pad placement is below the victim’s left nipple. In this scenario the pad is placed a bit further from the nipple, and more to the side of the chest.
Note: Adult pads can also be placed front and back on the victim if necessary. This “anterior- posterior” position of the defibrillator pads is used when it is necessary to avoid a pacemaker, nipple piercings, wounds, etc.
Pediatric Pad Placement
For infant and child AED use, it is difficult to place both electrode pads on the front of the chest without having them touch each other (which causes them to malfunction). In this case, front and back (anterior-posterior position) placement of the pads takes care of the difficulty. This way the electrical pathway goes from the front of the body, through the heart, and to the back; thus the shock can reach the heart without danger of short circuit between pads. Also, placing a pad on the back gives plenty of room for the second pad to fully contact bare skin, which is of high importance for the AED to obtain proper heart readings and deliver effective shocks to the heart.
If a child weighs less than 55 lbs (typically under the age of 8), infant/child pads should be used for defibrillation. These pads are made smaller so they can more easily fit the child’s torso. This smaller size, along with pictures on the pads, makes them easy to recognize. They are also designed to attenuate (reduce) the amount of electrical energy to 50 Joules of power. This reduction in power is accomplished either through the size and wiring of the pads themselves, or by the use of a switch or key on the AED machine.
Can you place an AED pad over an implanted device?
Conditionally, yes. Pacemakers and other implanted devices are designed to withstand the shock from an AED. Also, implants are usually inserted on the upper left-hand side of the chest, below the collarbone (away from where an AED pad would be placed) The implant typically makes a bulge under the skin below a small scar. In any case, every effort must be made to place the pad at least 3 cm (1.2 inches) away from the pacemaker and around the right-hand side of the chest.
Where do you place AED pads on a pacemaker?
Except under unique conditions, an AED pad is never placed ON a pacemaker! Pacemaker implants are usually inserted on the upper left-hand side of the chest, below the collarbone (away from where an AED pad would be placed) The implant typically makes a bulge under the skin below a small scar. In any case, every effort must be made to place the pad at least 3 cm (1.2 inches) away from the pacemaker and around the right-hand side of the chest.
What happens if AED pads are reversed?
An AED will still work even if the pads are reversed; in fact, newer pads are no longer “polarized”, but as long as they are in the proper positions (see above) they will still analyze and shock the heart as needed. Again, make sure the pads are in their indicated positions; this is more important than which pad is in each of those indicated positions.
Where do you place AED pads on a woman?
AED pads go in the same positions for all adult victims, male or female. A woman’s breast may have to be lifted in order for the lower right-side pad to be properly placed.
How do I apply AED pads to an infant?
Infant Pad Placement
- Peel the pads off the backing.
- Place one pad on the FRONT, LEFT-CENTER chest, between the nipples.
- Place the other pad on the infant/child’s back, exactly between the shoulder blades.
- Connect the pads to the AED. Some pads come pre-connected to the AED.
If a child weighs less than 55 lbs (typically under the age of 8), infant/child pads should be used for defibrillation. These pads are made smaller so they can more easily fit the child’s torso. (This smaller size, along with pictures on the pads, also makes them easier to recognize..) They are also designed to attenuate (reduce) the amount of electrical energy to 50 Joules of power. This reduction in power is accomplished either through the size and wiring of the pads themselves, or by the use of a switch or key on the AED machine.
For pediatric defibrillation, the anterior-posterior position of the pads is used to adjust for the difficulty in placing both AED pads in a small area. This way the electrical pathway can reach the heart without danger of short circuit while still making contact with a sufficient area of bare skin.
What happens if AED pads touch?
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If defibrillator pads touch they will not function correctly, if at all. They must be properly positioned and not in contact with each other. If the victim is too small to place both pads on the front of the body, the second pad may be placed on the center of the back (typical anterior posterior pediatric placement).
What should I do if I don’t have pediatric AED pads?
Even though adult pads are larger and deliver a stronger shock, they should still be used on a child, but ONLY if child-size pads are not available. It is still better to give an “adult-size shock” to a child than no shock at all!
How do you remove AED pads?
AED pads should not be removed by a lay first responder. The AED will continue to monitor the heart and does not interfere with CPR or other treatment. The pads will be removed by professional medical personnel once the SCA or other crisis has been fully treated.
1 reply on “FAQ: AED Pad Placement”
“Where do you place AED pads on a woman?
. . . A woman’s breast may have to be lifted in order for the lower right-side pad to be properly placed.”
Since when are we putting the lower pad on the patients left? Yeah it’s on the right, but not the patient’s right, and this is inconsistent with the instructions further up the page.