What is the purpose of using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)?

The primary purpose of using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is to restore a normal heart rhythm for someone experiencing cardiac arrest. During cardiac arrest, the heart may be beating erratically or not at all, commonly due to conditions such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. The AED is designed to analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electric shock (defibrillation) to help reset the electrical activity of the heart. This shock aims to interrupt the chaotic rhythm and allow the heart to resume its normal function.

Rescue breathing is not a function of the AED; it focuses solely on defibrillation. While increased pulse rate may be a result of successful defibrillation, the AED itself does not regulate or influence pulse rates directly. Monitoring heart rates is usually performed by other devices like heart rate monitors rather than an AED, which specifically provides shock therapy in emergencies. Thus, restoring normal heart rhythm is the key function of an AED in life-threatening situations.