Modern defibrillators have been designed so that any non-medically trained person can use them even without training. The defibrillator pads have a clear diagram on them to show exactly where to place them on the patient. The defibrillator then provides clear voice prompts to talk you through each step of the defibrillation process including when to perform CPR. If the patient does not have a shockable rhythm or if the patient is not suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) then the unit will not charge for a shock.  This makes it impossible to shock someone who doesn’t need it. The UK Resuscitation Council state “It is the view of the Resuscitation Council (UK) that the use of AEDs should NOT be restricted to trained personnel.” In an independent study by the University of Illinois, the Lifeline AED was proven to be the easiest to use defibrillator for minimally trained bystanders. Some people, however, do prefer to have the training to give them confidence and feel more comfortable in using a defibrillator. If you do wish to have additional training from a professional trainer then Martek Lifecare can provide this through our training partner.