History of AEDs
Defibrillation was first demonstrated in 1899 by Prevost and Batelli, two physiologists from University of Geneva, Switzerland. They discovered that small electric shocks could induce ventricular fibrillation. The first use of a defibrillator on a human was in 1947 by Claude Beck, professor of surgery at Case Western Reserve University. Beck first used the technique of defibrillation successfully on a 14 year old boy who was being operated on for a congenital chest defect. In the 1960s, portable defibrillators were introduced for use in ambulances. Today, defibrillators are the only proven way to resuscitate a person who has had a cardiac arrest and is still in persistent ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia at the arrival of rescuers.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a major public health problem and affects an estimated 500,000 people every year. Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, so it is extremely important to be prepared to respond quickly to sudden cardiac arrest. Having an accessible Automated External Defibrillator (AED) used to quickly deliver a life-saving shock often means the difference between life and death. When a victim experiences sudden cardiac arrest, with a shockable rhythm, every minute counts; every minute a victim goes without defibrillation, the chances for survival decrease by 7%-10%. But having an AED installed at your location can allow on-site trained responders, or nearby emergency responders, deliver potentially life-saving defibrillation therapy quickly and effectively.