Which of the following statements regarding an AED is correct?

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is designed to analyze the patient’s heart rhythm to determine if a shock is necessary. This process is crucial as it ensures that a shock is only delivered when the heart is in a rhythm that can be corrected by defibrillation, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. If the AED detects a non-shockable rhythm, such as normal sinus rhythm or asystole, it will not administer a shock, thereby preventing unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment.

In this context, the other statements do not accurately reflect how AEDs function. An AED does not administer shocks automatically at all times; it must first analyze the rhythm. While it does provide feedback for CPR performance, this feedback may not be present if the rhythm is not shockable. Regarding manual activation, most modern AEDs are designed for ease of use and can automatically begin their analysis once they are turned on, typically with minimal action required from the user. Thus, the statement regarding the AED's ability to analyze heart rhythms before deciding to shock is the most accurate and aligns with the device's intended operation.