How To Use AED Machine When Person Suddenly Collapse

Published on September 20, 2026

🩺 Medically reviewed by the Health Decoded Guide Editorial Team · Last reviewed: September 2026

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🔍 Quick Breakdown

AED (automated external defibrillator) na machine wey fit help when person heart stop suddenly  — dem suddenly collapse, no dey respond and no dey breathe normally.

The machine go check d heart rhythm by itself and tell you whether shock dey needed.

Call emergency help, start CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation )and use AED as soon as e available.

You no need be doctor or nurse to use AED o — abeg switch am on and follow wetin d machine tell you to do.

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🚨 Quick Action

If person suddenly collapse, no dey respond and no dey breathe normally:

• Call emergency number for where you dey and send person to bring AED
• Start CPR immediately
• Once AED arrive, switch am on and follow d instructions

Abeg no wait to see whether d person go wake up by themselves. Cardiac arrest na emergency.

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🟧 Wetin really be AED?

AED na portable machine wey dey check d electrical rhythm of d heart.

During some cardiac arrests, d heart develop dangerous rhythm. AED fit recognise this rhythm and give electrical shock if shock fit help.

If shock no dey needed, d machine no go just shock d person anyhow — e go tell you to continue CPR.

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🟧 How you go use AED?

Once AED reach:

• Switch am on and listen to d voice instructions
• Open d person's chest and quickly dry am if e wet
• Put d two pads where the pictures on the pads show
• Make sure nobody touch d person while AED dey check d heart rhythm
• If AED tell you to give shock, make everybody clear before d shock
• Continue CPR immediately after d shock — or if d AED say shock no dey needed

👉🏾 Continue to follow d AED instructions until emergency team take over or d person begin show clear signs of life.

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🟧 Where you suppose put the AED pads?

For most adults:

• one pad go dey for D upper right side of d bare chest
• d second pad go dey for d lower left side of d chest, under d armpit area

Follow d picture wey dey on d AED pads.

For small child, use child pads or child setting if e available. If e no available during cardiac arrest,

no delay AED use while you dey search for another machine.

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🟧 Wetin you no suppose do?

• No delay CPR because you dey find AED
• No touch the person while AED dey analyse or give shock
• No put the pads on top wet chest — quickly dry the chest first
• No stop CPR longer than the AED tell you

👉🏾 The main thing na to act quickly and follow the machine instructions.

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🟧 Real Life Example

Emeka dey for shopping centre when one man suddenly collapse.

•Emeka no sabi d man from before but wen e ask am "Oga, u dey ok"

• d man no answer 
• e no dey breathe normally
• somebody call for emergency help

But d owner of d shop wey him dey inside run go bring AED machine

Emeka start CPR. When AED arrive, dem switch am on, open d shirt so them fit see d man chest

Dem follow d pictures to place d pads well.

D AED analyse d heart rhythm and tell everybody to stand clear, make no hand dey for d man body, efter e given am d shock,
E continue to d next instruction. CPR continue immediately afterwards until d emergency team arrive.

👉🏾 You no need to know whether shock dey necessary — the AED  go check d heart rhythm come tell you if you need to shock. 

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🟧 🩺 When you suppose use AED 🚨

Use AED if person:

• suddenly collapse
• no dey respond
• no dey breathe normally or only dey gasp

Call emergency help and start CPR at d same time.

No use AED for person wey dey awake and e dey respond normally.

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🟢 Final Reassurance

Many people dey fear say dem fit use AED wrongly. But d machine dey designed to guide ordinary people step by step.

👉🏾 For cardiac arrest: call for help → start CPR → bring AED → follow d instructions. Acting quickly fit save life.

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📚 Reference

For full medical references, see the English version of this article.

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⚠️ Disclaimer

This article na for education only and e no replace professional medical advice.

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