A Fully Automatic AED reads a victim’s underlying heart rhythm and if they have a shockable rhythm, the AED will tell the rescuer to “Stand Clear” and will administer a shock automatically to the victim. An AED will NOT shock an individual if they do not need it.
A Semi-Automatic AED will read the victim’s underlying heart rhythm and if it detects a shockable rhythm, it will prompt the rescuer to push the Shock Button in order to deliver the electrical shock.
Typically, we recommend fully-automatic AEDs for businesses and locations that may not have medical professionals constantly present. Semi-automatic AEDs are ideal for emergency response professionals.