Automated vs. Automatic

You may have already an AED, or it could be you have considered placing a lifesaving AED in your organization.  But do you know what AED stands for?  AED is an acronym for  Automated External Defibrillator. It’s a common misperception that the A stands for automatic rather than automated.  We’re going to explain the difference!

Automatic means a device operates without assistance. In other words, nothing is required from the operator to make the device function.

Example: A driver does not have to shift gears when using an automatic transmission in a vehicle.  Of course a driver using  a manual transmission will shift gears manually.¹

Automated places more emphasis on the use of a device to do the work that used to be done without that device.

Example: Fewer accountants are necessary in corporations because billing has been automated.

A defibrillator is automated for a few reasons:

1. The paddles that hospitals rub together before placing on a victim of cardiac arrest are replaced with pads that any lay person can place on a victim’s chest with the help of adhesion gel.
2. The different selections made before shocking a victim is replaced by the AED’s computer algorithms that detects the heart rhythm.
3. The paper printed out of a defibrillator taking note of the EKG is replaced with the ability to download it straight from the device onto a computer.

If you have any questions about AEDs, give us a call at 855-796-6384, leave us a comment down below, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

Sources: https://www.englishforums.com/English/AutomaticVsAutomated/bczlkx/post.htm