Is it safe for an untrained person to use an AED?

Yes. AEDs are made for laypeople: they give clear voice instructions and only deliver a shock if a shockable rhythm is detected, so you cannot shock someone who does not need it.

Where do the AED pads go?

On bare skin — one pad on the upper-right chest below the collarbone, the other on the lower-left side below and beside the left nipple, kept a couple of centimetres apart. The pad diagrams on the device show the exact spots.

Can I use an AED on a child or baby?

Yes, for anyone aged 1 year and older. Use paediatric pads or paediatric mode for children under about 8 years (or under ~25 kg) if available; otherwise use adult pads, placing one front and one on the back if they would otherwise touch.

Where can I find an AED in Singapore?

Publicly accessible AEDs are installed across the island — in HDB lift lobbies, MRT stations, malls, and community and sports facilities. The myResponder app maps the nearest registered AED.

What do I do right after the AED delivers a shock?

Immediately resume chest compressions and keep following the AED prompts — do not wait to see if the person responds. The AED will prompt the next rhythm check about every 2 minutes.

How to Use an AED (Defibrillator) in Singapore

Written & reviewed by the BestDoctors.sg editorial team · Last updated 22 Aug 2026 · General information, not medical advice

Quick answer. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) checks the heart’s rhythm and, if needed, delivers a shock to restart a normal heartbeat. It is designed for laypeople and will not shock unless a shockable rhythm is detected, so you cannot accidentally harm someone. Turn it on and follow the spoken prompts. Expose and dry the chest, then place the pads on bare skin – one on the upper-right chest below the collarbone, one on the lower-left side below the left nipple. Don’t touch the person while it analyses or shocks, and resume chest compressions immediately after. Find the nearest public AED via myResponder.

An AED is used together with CPR: compressions keep blood moving, and the AED corrects the abnormal rhythm that caused the arrest. The device talks you through every step, so your job is simply to switch it on and do what it says.

Step by step

Send for the nearest AED as soon as cardiac arrest is recognised (use myResponder to locate it). If you are alone, keep doing CPR and let the 995 dispatcher advise.
Turn on the AED (press the power button or open the lid) and follow the voice prompts.
Prepare the chest – expose it, wipe it dry if wet or sweaty, shave excessive hair if a razor is provided, and remove any medication patches.
Attach the pads to bare skin as shown on the pad pictures: one on the upper-right chest just below the collarbone, one on the lower-left chest below and to the side of the left nipple, kept a couple of centimetres apart.
Plug in the connector if it is not already attached.
Stand clear during analysis – make sure no one is touching the person; say “Stay clear!” while the AED analyses.
If a shock is advised, confirm everyone is clear, then press the flashing shock button.
Resume chest compressions immediately after the shock (or at once if “no shock advised”), and keep following the prompts – the AED re-analyses about every 2 minutes.
Keep the pads on and continue CPR + AED cycles until the person wakes with normal breathing or paramedics take over.

Children and infants

An AED can be used on anyone aged 1 year and older. For a child under about 8 years (or under ~25 kg), use paediatric pads or a paediatric mode if available, which lowers the shock energy. If only adult pads are available, use them anyway – an adult AED is better than no defibrillation. If adult pads are so large they would touch, place one on the centre of the chest (front) and one on the back between the shoulder blades.

Do and don’t

Do: turn it on and follow the voice prompts; place pads on bare, dry skin; shout “Stay clear!” during analysis and shock; resume compressions immediately after a shock; use it on anyone in cardiac arrest; find the nearest AED with myResponder.

Don’t: touch the casualty while it analyses or shocks; delay applying it; place pads over medication patches, jewellery or a pacemaker lump; use it on a soaking-wet chest or in water (move to a dry surface and wipe first); remove the pads or switch it off once attached, even if the person seems to recover; or worry about “getting it wrong” – it will not shock a non-shockable rhythm.

Where to find an AED in Singapore

Publicly accessible AEDs have been installed widely across Singapore – including in HDB lift lobbies, MRT stations, shopping malls, and community and sports facilities. The myResponder app maps the nearest registered AED and can alert trained community responders when a cardiac arrest is reported via 995.

Related first-aid & emergency guides

Related condition guides

Sources

Singapore Heart Foundation — AED pad placement and CPR+AED for adults (turn on and follow prompts, pad positions, spacing, “Stay clear”, resume compressions after shock, paediatric guidance).
Singapore Resuscitation and First Aid Council (SRFAC) — BCLS & AED Guidelines 2021 (shock then immediately resume compressions); Paediatric Resuscitation Guidelines 2021 (paediatric energy attenuation, <8 yrs / <25 kg).
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) — Save-A-Life community AED initiative and myResponder app (locating the nearest AED; alerting Community First Responders).

In an emergency, call 995 (ambulance/fire) in Singapore — or 999 for police. This guide is general first-aid information, not a substitute for certified training or professional medical care. Consider a hands-on first-aid and CPR+AED course accredited by the Singapore Resuscitation and First Aid Council (SRFAC). If you are untrained, a 995 call-taker can coach you through what to do.