AED Question

[PhilGN]

Hi everyone. I just finished the BLS today, and I was wondering about something during the AED practice but didn't ask it. What happens when you're about to use an AED and someone has piercings? I looked online for an answer when I got home, and I found one website where someone said to remove them and another said to leave them on. I figure you shouldn't put the pad over them, but does anything else need to be done?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Just don't put the pads on the piercings and you should be fine.

[antidote]

This reminded me of when Mythbusters did this. MYTH!

If you place the pads correctly (as instructed) you should have no problem at all. The piercing most likely is not THAT big that it will get the way. By placing the pads on the opposite side of the body, the current will flow right through and it will not be interrupted by some little clip on... God knows what nowadays!

[mcknis]

We have asked the same question at our trainings as well. Don't feel stupid or out of place. We have all had a question that we felt was stupid at one time or another.

[Laughs-a-lot, RN]

My though, perhaps could there be a small burn to that area? Not for sure, however, I would rather live with a nipple burn than wait for someone to remove the piercing and die. It's only used in that situation and someones performing chest compressions in between applying pads, so I say leave it. Maybe they can post warnings at the piercing stores about possible effects if you need to be shocked, that would be pretty funny.

[rnmi2004]

:roll

I have to confess, when I read the post, I was thinking about pierced EARS & wondering why in the world that would matter. Just goes to show how behind the times I am!

[jackson145]

We were told at my last BLS re-up that one of our EMT's got zapped by the current shooting out of a piercing. They said it was just a risk we might have to face because it would be hard to take out a piercing quickly enough. They didn't advocate ripping it out, however.