{"id":653,"date":"2015-04-20T19:54:10","date_gmt":"2015-04-20T19:54:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/?p=653"},"modified":"2026-10-14T13:21:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T13:21:55","slug":"when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/","title":{"rendered":"When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"style-snapshot\">\n<div class=\"style-section\">\n<h3 class=\"style-section-title\">Style Snapshot<\/h3>\n<div class=\"style-section-content style-section-list\">\n<ul>\n<li>Understanding when and how to use manual or automatic external defibrillators (AED) is critical in cardiac emergencies. AEDs are often used in public settings and provide automated shock delivery based on the patient&#8217;s condition, while manual defibrillators require professional training for voltage application. Proper CPR training is essential for effective use of both devices, ensuring you&#8217;re prepared to save a life when every second counts.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><i>A medic rubs two rectangular pads together, creating a static charge as he kneels next to a patient. Even over the sound of wailing sirens, you can hear him yell, \u201cClear!\u201d as he pounds the automatic defibrillator pads to the patient\u2019s chest.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>The patient gasps\u2014he\u2019s alive!\u2014and the credits roll\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n<p>As you know, what you see on TV isn\u2019t always true. You\u2019ve probably seen a manual or <b>automatic external defibrillator<\/b> before\u2014maybe even in real life.<\/p>\n<p>But when lives are on the line, such as when you need to use these devices, you must depend on fact rather than fiction.<\/p>\n<p>What is the difference between a manual and an automatic external defibrillator? When is the right time to use one?<\/p>\n<p>We at <a href=\"http:\/\/simplecpr.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SimpleCPR<\/a> will instruct you on the best time to use a manual or <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">automatic external defibrillator<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h1>Automatic External Defibrillator<\/h1>\n<p>While TV may give you some idea of how an automatic defibrillator works, TV doesn\u2019t accurately tell you how\u2014or when\u2014to use one. In reality, you have to be prepared at any moment to jump into action\u2014not only when the cameras are rolling.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You can find AED units in most public buildings.<\/li>\n<li>You can pay an automatic defibrillator cost at an AED store to get a portable external defibrillator.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can usually find a building&#8217;s AED by locating the automated external defibrillator sign. However, knowing how to use one is only half the work\u2014you must also know how to recognize signs of cardiac arrest. So before you worry about knowing how to use one, you must know when. And you can only get that with classes, which is also where you&#8217;ll learn practical details like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/cpr-certification-how-long-should-i-provide-cpr\/\">how long you should provide CPR<\/a> before help arrives.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/simplecpr.com\/adult-cpr-aed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adult CPR<\/a> classes can teach you how to identify when someone is suffering from cardiac arrest. Identifying when someone needs help is the single most important aspect of using an automatic external defibrillator. Once you have that knowledge, you\u2019ll be ready to choose from AED prices to find one that fits your training.<\/p>\n<h1>Manual External Defibrillator<\/h1>\n<p>When should you use manual over automatic?<\/p>\n<p>A manual external defibrillator differs from an automatic external defibrillator definition in the way you apply voltage. While an AED measures and applies the amount of voltage to use, a manual defibrillator does not. A manual device measures the voltage required, but you must apply it yourself.<\/p>\n<p>As with an AED, you need more than familiarity with a manual device. You need <a href=\"http:\/\/simplecpr.com\/cpr-training\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CPR training<\/a> to know just what to do.<\/p>\n<p>You can mostly find manual defibrillators in ambulances and hospitals. If you&#8217;re properly trained \u2014 such as through our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/adult-child-infant-cpr-aed\">Adult, Child &#038; Infant CPR + AED course<\/a> \u2014 or are working on-site as a medical professional, you&#8217;ll have all the tools you need to make a difference.<\/p>\n<h1>Take CPR Classes and Take the First Step to Saving Lives<\/h1>\n<p>Watching medical dramas can only get you so far. If you really find yourself in a position to help during an emergency, do you really want to risk not knowing what to do? A manual or automatic external defibrillator can help you stabilize an emergency\u2014but only if you have prepared in advance and know the common <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/mistakes-to-avoid-while-giving-cpr\/\">mistakes to avoid while giving CPR<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Both require you to take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/adult-child-infant-cpr-first-aid\">CPR classes online<\/a>. With these classes, and you\u2019ll have all the knowledge (and confidence) to act when it counts.<\/p>\n<p>So before you jump on over to your local AED superstore to find your preferred AED brand, make sure you\u2019re ready. Take the classes, get your certification, and get to saving lives!<\/p>\n<p><span class='st_facebook_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='facebook'><\/span><span class='st_twitter_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='twitter'><\/span><span class='st_linkedin_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='linkedin'><\/span><span class='st_plusone_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='plusone'><\/span><span class='st_pinterest_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='pinterest'><\/span><span class='st_email_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='email'><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Style Snapshot Understanding when and how to use manual or automatic external defibrillators (AED) is critical in cardiac emergencies. AEDs are often used in public settings and provide automated shock delivery based on the patient&#8217;s condition, while manual defibrillators require professional training for voltage application. Proper CPR training is essential for effective use of both [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<p><span class='st_facebook_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='facebook'><\/span><span class='st_twitter_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='twitter'><\/span><span class='st_linkedin_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='linkedin'><\/span><span class='st_plusone_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='plusone'><\/span><span class='st_pinterest_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='pinterest'><\/span><span class='st_email_hcount' st_title='When to Use a Manual or Automatic External Defibrillator' st_url='https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/when-to-use-a-manual-or-automatic-external-defibrillator\/' displayText='email'><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/653","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=653"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/653\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2691,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/653\/revisions\/2691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.simplecpr.com\/online-cpr-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}