AHA BLS EXAM CPR AND AED SKILLS GUIDE
2026
◉ Who should use AED pads and system. Answer: anyone over 8
years old
◉ AED for children 1-8 y.o. Answer: pediatric dose-attenuator
system or pediatric pads for attempted defibrillation
(if system unavailable, use standard adult pads making sure they
don't touch)
◉ AED for infants <1 y.o. Answer: manual defibrillator preferred, if
unavailable, an AED with a pediatric dose attenuator or pediatric
pads
if neither available, use an AED with standard adult pads placed on
infant's chest and back
◉ AED special situations - water. Answer: DO NOT USE AED IN
WATER!! Wipe chest before attaching pads. If victim is lying on snow
or in a small puddle, you may use the AED
◉ AED special situations - transdermal medications. Answer:
placing an AED electrode pad on top of a medication patch may
block delivery of shocks or cause small burns to the skin. if it won't
, delay shock delivery, with gloves on, remove patch, wipe area clean,
attach pads
◉ AED special situations - implanted pacemakers or defibrillators.
Answer: avoid placing an AED pad directly over an implanted
medical device
◉ AED special situations - hairy chest. Answer: use razor from AED
case to shave the area where you will place the pads. if razor is
unavailable, use the first set of pads to remove the hair and apply the
second set of pads
◉ Universal steps for AED operation. Answer: 1. Power on AED and
follow voice prompts
2. Attach AED pads to victim's bare chest. Attach AED connecting
cable to the AED
3. Say "Clear" and make sure no one is touching the victim during
analysis
4. Say "Clear" and make sure no one is touching the victim. Press the
Shock button if a shock is indicated. Immediately resume CPR.
5. If AED says "no shock advised" leave the AED pads attached to the
victim's chest and immediately resume CPR
6. After ~2 minutes of CPR, the AED will automatically reanalyze
◉ Age CPR guidelines. Answer: Infant: <1 year, excluding newborns
2026
◉ Who should use AED pads and system. Answer: anyone over 8
years old
◉ AED for children 1-8 y.o. Answer: pediatric dose-attenuator
system or pediatric pads for attempted defibrillation
(if system unavailable, use standard adult pads making sure they
don't touch)
◉ AED for infants <1 y.o. Answer: manual defibrillator preferred, if
unavailable, an AED with a pediatric dose attenuator or pediatric
pads
if neither available, use an AED with standard adult pads placed on
infant's chest and back
◉ AED special situations - water. Answer: DO NOT USE AED IN
WATER!! Wipe chest before attaching pads. If victim is lying on snow
or in a small puddle, you may use the AED
◉ AED special situations - transdermal medications. Answer:
placing an AED electrode pad on top of a medication patch may
block delivery of shocks or cause small burns to the skin. if it won't
, delay shock delivery, with gloves on, remove patch, wipe area clean,
attach pads
◉ AED special situations - implanted pacemakers or defibrillators.
Answer: avoid placing an AED pad directly over an implanted
medical device
◉ AED special situations - hairy chest. Answer: use razor from AED
case to shave the area where you will place the pads. if razor is
unavailable, use the first set of pads to remove the hair and apply the
second set of pads
◉ Universal steps for AED operation. Answer: 1. Power on AED and
follow voice prompts
2. Attach AED pads to victim's bare chest. Attach AED connecting
cable to the AED
3. Say "Clear" and make sure no one is touching the victim during
analysis
4. Say "Clear" and make sure no one is touching the victim. Press the
Shock button if a shock is indicated. Immediately resume CPR.
5. If AED says "no shock advised" leave the AED pads attached to the
victim's chest and immediately resume CPR
6. After ~2 minutes of CPR, the AED will automatically reanalyze
◉ Age CPR guidelines. Answer: Infant: <1 year, excluding newborns
