How does it work?

Most patients, when they become pulseless go through a brief period in which the heart goes into a chaotic quivering due to erratic electrical activity. This is called ventricular fibrillation (VF). VF eventually deteriorates into a total absence of electrical activity, often around ten to fifteen minutes after arrest. The best chance to regain a pulse is when a patient in recent VF is shocked quickly - ideally in less than 4 - 6 minutes after arrest. An AED delivers electrical current through heart muscle, temporarily ceasing all electrical activity in the heart, hoping that when that electrical impulse returns, it will return in an organized pumping action instead of VF.

With the national EMS response time hovering around 8-9 minutes, likelihood of a successful defibrillation by EMS is poor. In fact, the American Heart Association estimates that for every minute that the patient is not defibrillated, they lose up to 10% off their chance of surviving. A bystander defibrillation, delivered moments after the arrest, can be much more successful. As a result, many companies have begun defibrillation projects.

AED's are virtually standard in some industries these days.  Most Fortune 1000 companies already have them in their offices.  You would be hard pressed to find an airport, commercial aircraft, or casino without one.  They are even commonplace in fitness centers, houses of worship, and in schools.