Final answer:
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) should be restarted immediately after the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) delivers a shock, beginning with chest compressions. The goal of the AED is to correct irregular heart rhythms and CPR helps in maintaining vital blood flow until a normal heart rhythm is restored.
Step-by-step explanation:
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable electronic device designed to diagnose cardiac conditions and deliver a shock with suitable energy and waveform. The goal of this device is to fix a heart's abnormal rhythm, particularly in incidents of cardiac or ventricular fibrillation. This condition can arise from rapid and irregular heartbeats.
After the AED delivers a shock, rescuers should immediately perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), starting with chest compressions. This process is crucial because the shock from an AED does not necessarily result in an immediate return of effective heart activity. Therefore, performing CPR helps maintain vital blood flow to the brain and heart until a normal heart rhythm is restored.
AEDs, today are common in ambulances and many public places. These devices are designed to be used by laypersons, not just medical professionals. They can be life-saving tools in a cardiac emergency by terminating an arrhythmia and allowing the body's natural pacemaker to resume its normal rhythm.
Learn more about AED and CPR