AED Without the Gaps: Timing Hands-Off Moments
Teams of four do CPR on a cushion while a cardboard AED arrives and is used, and a timekeeper tracks how long hands are off the chest. It shows that every pause matters and practices coordinating compressions with the defibrillator the way real teams do.
How to play
- Protocol review: compressions in the center of the chest at 100–120 per minute, about 2–2.4 inches (5–6 cm) deep on an adult, letting the chest recoil fully; turn the AED on as soon as it arrives and follow its prompts; nobody touches during analysis or shock (4 min).
- First run: one student compresses to a metronome at 110, another arrives with the AED and places the pads, another is the "AED voice" reading from a card; the timekeeper adds up every second without compressions (6 min).
- Analysis: each team looks at its total hands-off time and finds where it was lost (late pads, slow switch, not restarting after the shock) (4 min).
- Second and third runs with fixes: place pads without stopping compressions, set up the switch during analysis, restart immediately after the shock (9 min).
- Compare times across runs and wrap up (2 min).
Rules
- Compressions on cushions only, never on people.
- "Pads" go on the cushion or on a volunteer's T-shirt, always over clothing.
- Before the simulated shock, the person delivering it calls "Everyone clear!" and checks no one is touching.
- Switch compressors every 2 minutes to keep quality up.
Variations
Easier
No switches; just the AED arriving and one shock.
Standard
Team of four with switches and two analysis cycles.
Harder
The AED arrives with a bystander who doesn't know how to use it, and the team must coach them without stopping compressions.
Adaptations
- Visually impaired students: compress to the metronome guided by the AED voice; a partner places their hands on the right spot the first time.
- Wrist or shoulder injury: be the timekeeper or the AED voice.
- Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: replace the metronome with a flashing app or a partner beating time by hand.
Learning goals
- Keep high-quality compressions at 100–120 per minute.
- Cut interruptions to a minimum while using the AED.
- Coordinate roles and communication in a rescue team.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cushions: 7
- cardboard AED: 7
- stopwatches: 7
- metronome: 1
Teacher tip
A cardboard AED takes five minutes: a box, two paper pads joined with string and a card with the device's prompts. The typical error is standing and watching after the shock: the AED will say to resume CPR, and it has to happen instantly.
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