Final answer:
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a life-saving device used to treat ventricular fibrillation and other dangerous heart rhythms by delivering an electrical shock to restore normal heart rhythm.
Step-by-step explanation:
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a computerized machine that is programmed to recognize ventricular fibrillation and other lethal heart rhythms. In cases of cardiac emergencies, such as ventricular fibrillation where the heart beats in an uncontrolled manner, an AED can be a critical lifesaving tool. These devices are designed to be simple to use with direct verbal instructions, allowing nonmedical personnel to potentially save lives by reestablishing a normal sinus rhythm.
Ventricular fibrillation is a condition where the heart's ventricles beat erratically and fail to pump blood effectively, leading to a 'code blue' medical emergency in hospital settings. Without a quick response, this condition can quickly lead to brain death. The delivery of an electrical shock via an AED can interrupt this lethal arrhythmia and allow the body's natural pacemaker to resume a normal beating pattern.
Automated external defibrillators are increasingly found in public places such as schools, restaurants, and airports to assist in cardiac emergencies. Due to their ability to analyze a patient's heart rhythm via an electrocardiogram and deliver a shock with the appropriate energy and waveform, they are invaluable in emergency situations, especially when combined with CPR.