Question 1

Do you need to be trained to use a defibrillator?

Accepted Answer

No — modern AEDs are designed so any bystander can use one. The machine talks you through every step. But training matters: trained responders start CPR sooner, place pads correctly first time, and lose far less time getting a shock delivered. For Reading workplaces with a defibrillator on the wall, HSE guidance is that staff who may use it should be trained, and that training should be refreshed annually. We deliver this defibrillator (aed) training with cpr course in Reading regularly, with classroom dates near Green Park and Madejski employers for employers across South East England.

Question 2

What does this defibrillator training involve?

Accepted Answer

A half-day, hands-on session covering sudden cardiac arrest, the chain of survival, high-quality adult and child CPR at the 30:2 ratio, and live practice with a training AED — pad placement, voice-prompt navigation, safe shock delivery and rescuer changeover. You'll also cover what to do when the AED advises no shock, the recovery position and choking. Small groups, repeated practice, practical assessment throughout. No written exam. Learners from Green Park and Madejski employers and the wider Reading area sit this course with us each month — the content and certificate are the same wherever you're based.

Question 3

How long does the AED and CPR course take?

Accepted Answer

Half a day — typically 3 to 3.5 hours including breaks. We keep groups small (usually 6–12 learners) so everyone gets multiple turns on the manikin and the training AED. Most Reading courses run as a morning or afternoon block, and we can run a session on your own site if you've got 6 or more people. Public Reading dates near the Oracle and town centre fill quickly — book early or request an in-house session for your South East England team.

Question 4

How long does AED and CPR training last?

Accepted Answer

HSE strongly recommends an annual refresher for anyone who may need to use a defibrillator or deliver CPR at work. Skills — particularly chest compression depth and rate, and confident pad placement — start to fade within months, so an annual half-day top-up keeps your Reading response team sharp. Many workplaces book a fixed refresher slot each year for the whole team. If your team is based around Green Park and Madejski employers or elsewhere in Reading, our trainers travel to your site for closed groups of 6+.

Question 5

Can anyone use a defibrillator without training?

Accepted Answer

Yes — legally and practically, anyone can use a public access defibrillator in an emergency. The machine won't deliver a shock unless it detects a shockable rhythm, and the voice prompts guide you through pad placement and CPR. The point of training isn't permission — it's speed and confidence. Trained responders act sooner and follow the prompts more accurately, and those minutes are what change the outcome. Public Reading dates near the Thames Valley Park tech cluster fill quickly — book early or request an in-house session for your South East England team.

Question 6

What does AED stand for?

Accepted Answer

AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator. "Automated" because the machine analyses the heart rhythm itself and decides whether a shock is needed — the user doesn't have to interpret anything. "External" because the pads go on the outside of the chest. The same device is often called a "defib", a PAD (public access defibrillator) when mounted on a wall, or just "the defibrillator" in everyday speech. We deliver this defibrillator (aed) training with cpr course in Reading regularly, with classroom dates near the Thames Valley Park tech cluster for employers across South East England.

Question 7

Where do you place the defibrillator pads?

Accepted Answer

On an adult: one pad on the upper right chest just below the collarbone, the other on the lower left side of the chest a few inches below the armpit. The pads themselves show the placement on the diagram. For a child under eight, use paediatric pads if you have them; if you don't, use adult pads and place one on the front of the chest and one on the back, so the pads don't touch each other. The AED will guide you either way. If your team is based around the Thames Valley Park tech cluster or elsewhere in Reading, our trainers travel to your site for closed groups of 6+.

Question 8

Is online-only training enough to use a defibrillator?

Accepted Answer

Online learning is useful for the theory, but it can't replace hands-on practice. CPR is a physical skill — chest compression depth, rate and rhythm only stick once you've felt them on a manikin and corrected your technique under supervision. The same goes for AED pad placement and rescuer changeovers. This Reading course is fully practical with a training AED, which is what HSE guidance recommends for workplace responders. Public Reading dates near the Thames Valley Park tech cluster fill quickly — book early or request an in-house session for your South East England team.

Question 9

What is CPR and AED training?

Accepted Answer

It's the combined skill set you need to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest: recognising the collapse, calling for help and a defibrillator, delivering high-quality chest compressions and rescue breaths, and using an automated external defibrillator. Done together they are the first two links of the chain of survival — and the two with by far the biggest impact on whether someone survives. If your team is based around Green Park and Madejski employers or elsewhere in Reading, our trainers travel to your site for closed groups of 6+.

Question 10

Can you run this course on-site at our Reading workplace?

Accepted Answer

Yes — on-site delivery in Reading is one of the most popular options. We bring training AEDs, adult and child manikins, face shields and all paperwork. You provide a room large enough for the group to spread out and a clear floor area for the practical work. Group sizes of 6–12 work best; we can split larger teams across multiple half-day sessions.

Question 11

Can you use a defibrillator on a child?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use paediatric pads if your AED has them — they reduce the shock energy for children under eight. If you only have adult pads, use them: a shock from adult pads is better than no shock at all. Placement for small children is front and back of the chest so the pads don't touch. We practise both adult and paediatric scenarios during the Reading course. Most of our defibrillator (aed) training with cpr learners in Reading come from teams around the Thames Valley Park tech cluster — book here and we'll run the session at a venue close by.

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