{"id":13256,"date":"2020-05-19T08:26:07","date_gmt":"2020-05-19T08:26:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cprcare.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=13256"},"modified":"2026-02-06T13:50:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T13:50:32","slug":"can-cpr-aed-be-given-to-someone-with-a-pacemaker","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/es\/blog\/can-cpr-aed-be-given-to-someone-with-a-pacemaker\/","title":{"rendered":"CPR &amp; Pacemaker: Step-by-Step Guide for Life-Saving Intervention"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What should you do first? CPR or AED?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4A4Vrdrj93k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a simple but crucial lifesaving technique to learn. It helps a bystander tackle sudden cardiac arrest cases more accurately. A bystander can work with an AED, which is a small device to keep someone\u2019s heart beating after they\u2019ve suffered a sudden cardiac arrest emergency. After cardiac failure, one\u2019s heart will stop beating, so it\u2019s essential that someone intervenes in order to get their heart pumping again. This is where CPR comes in. When performing CPR, a bystander will work to get the victim\u2019s heart beating again. This applies even to the person with a pacemaker who is suffering from similar medical emergencies in front of a bystander.<\/p>\n<p>CPR has helped many people to be revived. At <a href=\"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American CPR Care Association<\/a>, we work hard to train anyone who wants to learn and perform CPR. Our goal is to ensure all Americans learn life-saving skills.<\/p>\n<p>We offer CPR\/AED courses that serve to train people in proper resuscitation techniques. We have been working with our communities for many years and have coached people from all walks of life with our <a href=\"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/course\/cpr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">100% online CPR training course<\/a>. We offer our courses to medical professionals and also the general public, so everyone can continue to save victims like a person with a pacemaker whenever they are suffering from a cardiac arrest situation.<\/p>\n<p>At American CPR Care Association, we often receive questions regarding whether or not CPR can be used on certain people. One thing that many people have concerns about is whether or not CPR can be performed on a person with a pacemaker.<\/p>\n<p>In this blog, we are going to delve into the question of whether CPR can be used on someone with a pacemaker. Approximately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.startribune.com\/facts-about-pacemakers\/86678617\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1.5 million Americans<\/a> have a pacemaker, so this is an extremely important topic that everyone needs to understand in order to ensure that they\u2019re offering the right kind of life-saving assistance in the event of cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n<h2>What is a Pacemaker?<\/h2>\n<p>Before we discuss whether or not CPR is appropriate for someone with a pacemaker, it\u2019s important to first understand what exactly a pacemaker is.<\/p>\n<p>In essence, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/tests-procedures\/pacemaker\/about\/pac-20384689\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pacemaker<\/a> is a small device, designed to withstand situations of bradycardia, and is placed under the skin directly over the heart. It works to regulate someone\u2019s heartbeat when there are issues that are causing it to beat irregularly.<\/p>\n<p>In order to obtain a pacemaker, one must undergo a surgical procedure. During that procedure, an electrical device (i.e., a pacemaker) is implanted under the skin to regulate the heart rhythm. The pacemaker is made up of two parts. One part is the pulse generator, which works to use the battery in the pacemaker to send electrical pulses to the heart when it is beating irregularly. The other part is made up of leads which actually transmit the electrical impulses directly to the heart.<\/p>\n<p>Pacemakers help to control issues with the heart known as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/arrhythmia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">arrhythmias<\/a>. In general, there are two types of arrhythmias. One is known as tachycardia, during which the heart beats too fast. The other is known as bradycardia, in which the heart beats too slow.<\/p>\n<p>Both types of arrhythmias can be fatal if not managed properly. Thus, for people who are dealing with them, it may be necessary to receive a pacemaker in order to ensure that the heart is functioning correctly. If the heart starts beating too slow or too fast, the pacemaker is designed to withstand these situations and triggered to send an electrical signal to the heart in order to get it back to beating properly.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><div class=\"saving-life-box\">\n<div class=\"d-flex\">\n\t<div class=\"title-box\">\n\t\t<h4>CPR Training Made for Everyone<\/h4>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"btnbox\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/course\/cpr\/?utm_content=CPR &amp; Pacemaker: Step-by-Step Guide for Life-Saving Intervention - CPR Training Made for Everyone - CTA1\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">Enroll Now<\/a>\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What is CPR?<\/h2>\n<p>In a general sense, CPR is a process that works to get the heart beating again. It is a fairly simple procedure. However, it is something that can be forgotten over time, so it\u2019s important to keep your credentials up to date.<\/p>\n<p>CPR consists of using chest compressions and rescue breaths. Chest compressions seek to mimic the beating of the heart. In order to perform them, place your palm on the victim\u2019s chest and place your other hand over it. Then, begin pressing deeply and quickly in order to help to mechanically pump the heart and get the blood flowing through the body.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, it\u2019s important to attempt to supply fresh oxygen to the body in the event of cardiac arrest, so rescue breaths are also an important part of CPR. In order to perform rescue breaths, pinch the victim\u2019s nose closed and tilt their head back. Then, blow two long, strong breaths into the victim\u2019s mouth (while making a complete seal around their mouth with your own). Make sure you\u2019re looking to see that the person\u2019s chest is rising as you offer the rescue breaths. If it isn\u2019t you may not be blowing hard enough or there may be an obstruction in the airway that you need to clear.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Using An AED On Someone<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In addition to chest compressions and rescue breaths, it\u2019s important to also try to use an AED on someone who is suffering from cardiac failure as well. An AED or automated external defibrillator works to offer an electrical shock to the heart. This is extremely important for someone who is suffering from cardiac arrest and can significantly increase their chances of surviving the emergency.<\/p>\n<p>However, many people have questions about whether or not an AED is safe for a person with a pacemaker, as both devices offer an electrical impulse straight to the heart. In addition, people wonder about whether or not CPR, in general, should be applied to someone with a pacemaker. Continue reading as we explore these questions in depth.<\/p>\n<h2>Is CPR Safe for Someone with an AED Pacemaker?<\/h2>\n<p>Again, this is a very common question and one which is very valid considering all of the circumstances. The answer is that: Yes, CPR is completely safe for someone who has a pacemaker.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to basic CPR procedures, everything is essentially the same for someone with a pacemaker. It\u2019s important to deliver chest compressions immediately, just as you would on someone without a pacemaker. Make sure you\u2019re pressing deeply into the chest at a depth of about 1.5-2 inches or about one-third of the diameter of the chest. Provide 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 bpm.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that the key is to try to get the blood pumping through the heart and throughout the body. Thus, administering high-quality chest compressions is one of the most important aspects of proper CPR to regulate the heart rhythm once again for the patient. Because the pacemaker is placed directly above the heart and chest compressions are done slightly lower, in the center of the chest, there should be no interference.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, it\u2019s also important to still provide rescue breaths to someone who is suffering from cardiac arrest, even if they have a pacemaker. Make sure to complete a round of 30 chest compressions, and then switch over to offering 2 rescue breaths.<\/p>\n<h2>Can an AED Be Used on Someone with a Pacemaker?<\/h2>\n<p>In addition to chest compressions and rescue breaths, another important aspect of CPR is utilizing an AED. As explained above, and AED works to administer an electrical shock to the heart in order to restart it. AEDs can be extremely effective for CPR. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, AEDs have been shown to double the chances of someone\u2019s survival when suffering from cardiac arrest outside of a hospital.<\/p>\n<p>However, many bystanders have concerns when it comes to using an AED on someone with a pacemaker. Because both pacemakers and AEDs supply electrical currents to the heart, it\u2019s understandable that people would be concerned about whether or not an AED would be safe to use.<\/p>\n<p>However, thankfully, AEDs are absolutely safe to use on someone with a pacemaker. The one significant change that occurs when using an AED on someone with a pacemaker is to make sure to position the AED pads correctly. AED pads should always be placed on the upper right and lower left portions of the victim\u2019s chest, surrounding the heart. However, when using an AED on someone with a pacemaker, it\u2019s important to make sure that the electrical impulse from the AED doesn\u2019t interfere with the pacemaker, so you must make sure to position the pads so that they are at least 1 inch away from the device.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Luckily, when it comes to performing CPR on someone with a pacemaker, the rules are almost the same. It\u2019s important to administer high-quality chest compressions, along with rescue breaths in order to attempt to get blood and oxygen flowing throughout the body. In addition, an AED can still be used on someone with a pacemaker. However, it\u2019s key that you place the pads at least 1 inch away from the device in order to ensure that the shock from the AED doesn\u2019t interfere with the pacemaker.<\/p>\n<p>American CPR Care Association is committed to providing our clients with quality CPR\/AED certifications in order to ensure that as many people as possible are equipped to deal with the emergency of cardiac arrest. For more information or to schedule your training today, <a href=\"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/\">visit<\/a> , or reach out to us at 1-888-808-9109 or info@cprcare.com.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><div class=\"receive-certification-box\">\n\t<div class=\"d-flex\">\n\t<div class=\"need-certification-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/receive-certification.png\" alt=\"Online CPR Certification\"\/><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"need-certification-txt\">\n\t    <p class=\"h4\">Get CPR Certified Today<\/p>\n\t\t<p class=\"h5\">Flexible, fast training and designed for real-world emergencies.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"need-certification-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/course\/cpr\/?utm_content=CPR &amp; Pacemaker: Step-by-Step Guide for Life-Saving Intervention - Get CPR Certified Today - CTA2\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">Enroll Now<\/a><\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":62058,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","blog_category":[319],"class_list":["post-13256","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blog_category-cpr-training"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/13256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blog_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cprcare.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_category?post=13256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}