Can you operate an AED if you have a pacemaker or ICD?

I had a great question at a program I did for my local Mended Hearts chapter the other night.

Can a rescuer with a pacemaker or ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) safely operate an AED?

And the answer is .... Yes!

When I'm short on time my go-to source for answers to questions I'm not 100% sure on is one of the online instructor forums I belong to. There are a lot of really smart and knowledgeable folks in the group. One member even did a bit of research for me and provided this great link to Daily Living with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator. She even called Medtronic to ask. I'll be updating this post when I have a chance to call them myself later today.

But AED's are safe and easy to use, even if the rescuer has a pacemaker or ICD.

5/17 update: I called Medtronic, the folks who make the Lifepack 1000 AED. AED's are safe to use by rescuers with a pacemaker or ICD. They don't have anything in writing on it, but the rep on the phone confirmed the safety of the rescuer.

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