ESC-ERC recommendations for the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in Europe

The use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) has a major impact in the management of cardiac arrest and substantial implications for public health. It is therefore important for the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) to join forces to develop European recommendations for legislation on defibrillation, for training in AED use and for the development of AED community programmes. To fulfil these objectives a Policy Conference was organised jointly by ESC and ERC in December 2002 at the European Heart House in Sophia Antipolis, France. The present document is the result of that policy conference and it has four key objectives: to provide a critical appraisal of the studies published in the scientific literature on the use of AEDs. To present data on the status of legislation/organisation of defibrillation by non-medically qualified rescuers in Europe. To promote recommendations for the organisation of AED programmes in Europe that were collected and discussed during the policy conference. To identify the areas in which more research is needed before evidence based guidelines for the use of AEDs can be developed.