Introduction

On identifying a player who has collapsed and is in cardiac arrest, there should be an immediate call for help to ensure a defibrillator is brought to the patient and good quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation commenced to optimise any chance of the player obtaining a return of spontaneous circulation.

Summoning a defibrillator from nearby and calling for an emergency ambulance is a key part of the chain of survival to facilitate the assessment of the cardiac rhythm and guidance of the required care.

This chapter will focus on the use of automated external defibrillator for both adults and children highlighting the management for shock able and non-shock able cardiac arrest rhythms.