Can Anyone Use a defibrillator?
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable medical device that analyses heart rhythm and delivers an electric shock if needed. It is designed to treat sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a condition in which the heart stops beating effectively. SCA can occur without warning, and survival depends on immediate action.
AEDs are increasingly available in public spaces, workplaces, and community facilities. They are built to be simple enough for use by untrained bystanders, with clear voice and visual prompts. This design enables rapid intervention before emergency medical services arrive.
Understanding who can use an AED and addressing common misconceptions can help ensure more people feel confident to act during a cardiac emergency.
What Is a Defibrillator and How Does It Work?
A defibrillator is a portable medical device that checks the heart’s rhythm and delivers an electric shock if it detects certain life-threatening arrhythmias. These include ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, both of which prevent the heart from pumping blood effectively.
When a defibrillator is switched on, it provides clear step-by-step voice and visual instructions. It prompts the user to attach adhesive electrode pads to the person’s chest. The device then automatically analyses the heart rhythm. If a shock is required, the defibrillator will either deliver it automatically or instruct the user to press a clearly marked button. Modern devices will not deliver a shock unless it is medically necessary.
Defibrillation works by briefly stopping the chaotic electrical activity in the heart. This pause gives the heart’s natural pacemaker a chance to restore a normal rhythm. Because the chances of survival decrease by around 10 % for every minute without defibrillation, it is critical that the device is used as soon as possible after collapse.
Did you know?
The Resuscitation Council UK notes that for every minute defibrillation is delayed, survival falls by roughly one-tenth — highlighting the importance of immediate use in public settings.
Myth vs. Fact - Can Anyone Use a Defibrillator?
Myth: Only trained professionals should use a defibrillator
Fact: Defibrillators are designed so that anyone, including members of the public with no medical training, can use them. The device gives clear audio and visual instructions, guiding the user through each step. The British Heart Foundation confirms that training is helpful but not essential for safe use.
Myth: A defibrillator can deliver a shock by accident
Fact: Modern devices assess the person’s heart rhythm before allowing a shock. If the rhythm does not require defibrillation, the device will not deliver one — even if the shock button is pressed. This safety feature prevents harm to someone who does not need treatment.
Myth: Children cannot use a defibrillator
Fact: Anyone old enough to follow instructions can use one. In schools, staff and even older pupils have used defibrillators successfully in emergencies. For children under eight years of age, paediatric pads are recommended, but adult pads can be used if paediatric ones are unavailable.
Legal and Safety Protections - What About Liability?
In the UK, there is no specific law that restricts the use of a defibrillator to medical professionals. Anyone can use one in an emergency without formal training.
Concerns about legal consequences are common, but the risk of liability is extremely low. Under general principles of UK law, including the concept often referred to as Good Samaritan protection, courts take a favourable view of people who attempt to help in a medical emergency, provided they act reasonably and in good faith. There is no record of a successful claim being made against someone for using a defibrillator to assist a casualty.
Defibrillators also have built-in safety controls. They will only deliver a shock if the device’s internal analysis confirms it is necessary, reducing the chance of causing harm. This safeguard further supports legal protection for lay users.
Public bodies, such as the Department for Education and the Resuscitation Council UK, encourage immediate use of defibrillators, emphasising that delaying for fear of legal repercussions could put a life at greater risk.
Real-World Use - Stories and Examples
Defibrillators have been successfully used by members of the public in a wide range of settings. In many cases, the first person to respond was not a healthcare professional.
One example comes from Dublin in 2024, where bystanders used a publicly accessible defibrillator to treat a man who had collapsed in the street. The device’s voice prompts guided them through attaching the pads and delivering the shock before emergency services arrived. According to Dublin Fire Brigade, this immediate action was a decisive factor in the man’s survival.
In UK schools, staff have also intervened with defibrillators during sports activities or classroom incidents. In each instance, the device’s automated guidance ensured correct use, even under stress.
Human observation: Public defibrillators are sometimes installed in locations that are difficult to find quickly, such as behind locked gates or in poorly lit areas. Clear signage and 24-hour access are essential for ensuring these devices can be reached in time.
When and How to Use a Defibrillator - Step-by-Step
Using a defibrillator in an emergency is straightforward. The device is designed to guide you through each stage. The Resuscitation Council UK recommends the following approach:
Check the scene and the person
Ensure it is safe to approach.
Check responsiveness by speaking to and gently shaking the person.
Call 999 immediately
State that someone is in cardiac arrest.
Ask for a defibrillator location if one is nearby.
Start chest compressions
Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest, with the other hand on top.
Push hard and fast, at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute.
Switch on the defibrillator
Follow the voice and visual instructions provided by the device.
Attach the pads
Remove clothing from the chest.
Place one pad on the upper right chest and the other on the lower left side.
Let the device analyse the heart rhythm
Do not touch the person during analysis.
If a shock is advised, follow the prompts — either press the button when told, or the device will shock automatically.
Continue CPR
Resume compressions immediately after the shock.
Follow the device prompts until emergency services arrive or the person shows signs of recovery.
Human observation:
Even in locations with a defibrillator, the most common delay comes from uncertainty about where it is stored. Knowing the nearest device location in advance can save vital seconds.
Why Immediate Action Matters
When someone is in cardiac arrest, their heart has stopped pumping blood effectively. Without intervention, oxygen supply to the brain and vital organs rapidly declines, leading to irreversible damage within minutes.
Defibrillation is most effective when delivered quickly. The Resuscitation Council UK notes that the chances of survival decrease by about 10 % for every minute without defibrillation. After 10 minutes, survival is unlikely without advanced medical care.
Immediate use of a defibrillator, combined with chest compressions, can restore a normal heart rhythm before emergency services arrive. This is why public access defibrillators are placed in transport hubs, sports centres, schools, and other high-footfall locations.
Speed is critical — delays in retrieving or using a device significantly reduce the likelihood of a positive outcome. In many real cases, the people who survived a cardiac arrest outside hospital were those who received defibrillation within the first few minutes.
Summary
Defibrillators are built so that anyone can use them in an emergency. They require no prior medical training and provide clear instructions from the moment they are switched on. Safety mechanisms ensure they will only deliver a shock when it is medically appropriate, making them safe for use by the public.
In the UK, there are no legal barriers preventing bystanders from using a defibrillator. Guidance from the Resuscitation Council UK, British Heart Foundation, and public health bodies consistently stresses the importance of immediate action. Fear of making a mistake or causing harm is a common reason for hesitation, but modern devices are designed to remove this risk.
Knowing where the nearest defibrillator is located, and being willing to use it, can make the difference between life and death in a cardiac arrest. Public awareness and confidence remain as important as the devices themselves.
Sources
Resuscitation Council UK – Defibrillation
Explains the importance of acting immediately and states that “for every minute that someone’s in cardiac arrest without receiving CPR and having a defibrillator used on them, their chance of survival decreases by 10%.”
https://www.resus.org.uk/public-resources/defibrillation
Resuscitation Council UK – CPR, AEDs and the Law
Clarifies legal aspects of defibrillator use in the UK. It notes there is no statutory requirement to install devices and that “the courts have always looked benevolently on those who have gone to the assistance of others.” It also confirms modern defibrillators only deliver shocks when needed.
https://www.resus.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-05/CPR%20AEDs%20and%20the%20law%20%285%29.pdf
UK Parliament Commons Library – Public Access to Automatic External Defibrillators
Summarises the legal landscape around public access defibrillators. It reiterates the 10 % decrease in survival per minute delay and explains that there is no statutory obligation to provide devices, though missing one could raise negligence concerns in common law.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2021-0176/
Wikipedia – Automated External Defibrillator
Provides medical context on cardiac arrest and quantifies survival decline over time: 7 % per minute during the first three minutes, and around 10 % per minute thereafter if defibrillation is delayed. It also confirms defibrillators are designed for use by laypersons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_external_defibrillator
Independent.ie – Meath Community Launches Defibrillator in Honour Of Firefighter
Describes a recent (July 2025) real-life example of a public installing a defibrillator. Highlights the 10 % per minute survival decline and emphasises local community training and 24/7 accessibility.
https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/meath-community-launches-defibrillator-in-honour-of-dedicated-frontline-firefighter/a1262977285.html
