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An ECG heartbeat running through the image of an automated electronic defibrillator and the text 'Shockingly Simple'

An AED can deliver a life-saving shock

Every 20 minutes, someone living in Australia experiences a cardiac arrest.

A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any time, and research shows that the chance of survival outside of a hospital setting is incredibly low. We can help change this.

If a bystander uses an automated external defibrillator (AED), the survival rate is around 50%, compared to 27% when immediate assistance isn’t provided and the patient must wait for help. By taking quick and informed action, with the support of an AED, you can help to save someone’s life.

Do you know how Shockingly Simple they are to use?

Understand the Chain of Survival

If you think someone is in cardiac arrest, follow the steps of Call, Push, Shock, also known as the Chain of Survival.

Remember, any attempt at resuscitation is better than no attempt and your quick action can give them the best chance of survival.

Call – Starting the Chain of Survival

Learn about calling emergency services and how to assess the situation. The operator will take you through what to do, including how to perform CPR.

Push – How to do CPR

Learn how to perform CPR. You do not have to be qualified and any attempt at resuscitation is better than none.

Shock – Using an AED

Learn how to administer life-saving shocks. AEDs are designed to be easy to use (even with no training) and safe for both the user and the patient.

An icon representing a cardiac arrest

What is a sudden cardiac arrest?

  • A sudden cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart suddenly stops beating.
  • It usually happens when there is a problem with the heart's electrical system, stopping the heart from pumping blood around the body.
  • During cardiac arrest, a person will be unresponsive and not breathing (or not breathing normally).

Icon representing an automatic electronic defibrillator (AED)

What is an automated external defibrillator (AED)? 

  • An AED is a portable electronic device that can detect life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms.
  • AEDs are smart and will only deliver a shock if it is necessary.
  • AEDs are designed to be easy to use and will give simple step-by step instructions. This means anyone can use an AED even if you’ve never seen or used one before.

Shocker stories

Meet Anastasia, cardiac arrest responder

Anastasia recalls the cold Tuesday evening when she witnessed a man lying unconscious during a social game of soccer.

“I was very happy to help by giving CPR but there was an element of fear about starting chest compressions, and uncertainty if I was doing it right. The AED was the one thing that provided an immense sense of support and reassurance."

Meet Daniel, cardiac arrest survivor

Daniel’s gym session started like any other with some light stretches and his favourite playlist. The Adelaide father of three felt well as he settled into his run on the treadmill, totally unaware that just six minutes later he would go into cardiac arrest. 

“I just dropped to the ground,” explains Daniel. “My heart stopped, and I wasn’t breathing for over 12 minutes.” 

Anastastia and Felix Georgiou, a mother and son smiling in a selfie at the soccer

The moment I saw the AED, I felt the biggest sense of relief. I heard the machine’s voice talk me through what I needed to do and suddenly I felt back in control.

Anastasia Georgiou

Cardiac arrest responder

Tools and resources

How to find an AED near you

During a cardiac arrest, finding an AED is a race against time. But in the chaos of the moment, it’s hard to navigate with panic setting in. The first step is always to call triple zero (000). Once you have called, you can use the Heart of the Nation app to help you locate up to 10 registered AEDs within five kilometres of your location, anywhere in Australia.

Computer and phone mock-ups of the bright yellow Heart of the Nation app
A person pressing the buttons on the automated electronic defibrillator

Purchase an AED

Learn everything you need to know about choosing the right AED for your home or workplace. Or, if you already know which AED is right for you, you can purchase one here.

A woman practicing CPR on a mannequin

Learn, Prepare, Respond

This free online course will provide you with practical tips to build your confidence in responding to a cardiac arrest including how to Call, Push, Shock.

A person receiving CPR compressions with AED pads on their chest.

First Aid Training

Learn to recognise emergencies and provide immediate and effective first aid treatment to any person suffering a sudden illness or injury.

Resources for South Australians

Changes to AED legislation

South Australia will become the first state to mandate the installation and registration of AEDs, with the South Australian Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022 scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2025.

Understand the requirements of the Act, how it will be implemented and more on the SA Health website.

Be a GoodSAM responder

In South Australia, SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) has partnered with GoodSAM to help save more lives. GoodSAM is an alert system that uses a phone app to notify registered responders – like off-duty health professionals and first-aiders – if a cardiac arrest occurs near them.

Learn more about the program and how to register as a GoodSAM responder on the SAAS website.

Help us spread the word

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Download our resource kit

Help us empower more individuals to use an AED with our resource kit.

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Buy a Shocker t-shirt

Show your support while raising awareness with a ‘Shocker’ t-shirt.

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Frequently asked questions

A cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart stops beating. It can happen suddenly and usually occurs when there is a problem with the heart's electrical system, stopping the heart from pumping blood around the body. During a cardiac arrest, a person will be unresponsive and not breathing (or not breathing normally).

A cardiac arrest is a medical emergency but quick action from bystanders by performing CPR and using an AED can improve a person’s chance of survival.

A cardiac arrest happens suddenly and rapidly. It often occurs with no warning. The person in cardiac arrest will:

  • Collapse and fall to the ground
  • Lose consciousness and become non-responsive
  • Not be breathing normally or not at all – it may sound like they are choking, gasping or gurgling.

A heart attack is essentially a problem with the heart’s plumbing. During a heart attack, one or more of the arteries that take blood to the heart’s own tissue becomes blocked or narrowed. This means that less blood (and consequently less oxygen) is delivered to the heart muscle, causing damage. A person experiencing a heart attack will usually be alert, breathing, and complaining of chest pain and other symptoms. Their heart is still beating.

A cardiac arrest can be thought of as an electrical problem inside the heart. During a cardiac arrest, there is a problem with the signals that tell the heart when and how to contract. This means that it either stops beating or isn’t beating enough to get enough blood pumping around your body. A person experiencing a cardiac arrest will be unconscious and not breathing normally, if not at all.

Both heart attacks and cardiac arrests are medical emergencies. Remember to call Triple Zero (000) immediately. The operator will be able to ask questions to determine what is happening and send help.

CPR is a combination of mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing and chest compressions. Compressions-Only CPR is CPR without rescue breaths (also known as ‘hands only CPR’). Both types of CPR can double the person’s survival rates, compared to when immediate assistance isn’t provided and the patient must wait for help.

CPR helps to keep blood and oxygen circulating to the brain of a person whose heart has stopped beating, increasing their chances of survival until the heart can be restarted.

CPR alone does not restore a normal heart rhythm. It does help keep the heart in a state where the AED has a greater chance of being able to do its job.

Remember, any attempt at resuscitation is better than none.

An AED is a portable electronic device that can detect life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms. These abnormal heart rhythms can cause a cardiac arrest.

An AED can help treat these abnormal heart rhythms by giving an electric shock to the heart. The idea is to ‘shock’ the heart back to a normal rhythm. This is known as defibrillation.

AEDs are smart – they are designed to only deliver a shock if it is necessary and will not shock someone with a normal heartbeat. AEDs are user-friendly and include safety features to prevent misuse.

AEDs also give simple step-by-step instructions. This means anyone can use an AED, even if you’ve never seen or used one before.

Heart of the Nation logo Heart of the Nation is the Heart Foundation’s partner for AED and CPR awareness, training and advocacy. Together, we are committed to exploring ways to improve survival rates from, and reduce the incidence of, out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Australia, and bolstering community and Government action in relation to CPR and AED access and use.