PAD means Public Access Defibrillation: making AEDs easy for ordinary people to find and use during cardiac arrest.
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Quick answer
PAD: P means Public; A means Access; D means Defibrillation. PAD means Public Access Defibrillation: making AEDs easy for ordinary people to find and use during cardiac arrest.
When PAD helps
Use PAD when planning AED placement or understanding why public AEDs matter. ANZCOR recommends public access AED programs for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, alongside early recognition, CPR and fast defibrillation.
Safety boundary: A remembered sequence must never delay CPR, defibrillation or a Triple Zero (000) call. If a real incident is unfolding, act on the person’s condition, call Triple Zero (000) when it is an emergency and follow the operator’s instructions.
Where it sits: PAD is commonly read alongside AED, OHCA, SCA, VF, but each term has a different job. The comparisons later on this page explain those boundaries.
What Does PAD Stand For?
| P | Public Available where bystanders, staff or community members may be first on scene. |
| A | Access Easy to locate, unlock, retrieve and use without avoidable delay. |
| D | Defibrillation Using an AED to deliver a shock if the heart rhythm is shockable. |
Common Mistakes
- Do not hide the AED where visitors or after-hours users cannot reach it.
- Do not forget signage, registration, staff awareness and maintenance.
- Do not wait for a manager before taking an AED to a collapsed person.
PAD Step-By-Step For Beginners
Use this detailed sequence when learning how PAD applies to AED programs, community defibrillators, workplaces, clubs, schools and public spaces. It connects the letters to observable checks, clear words and a useful handover rather than treating the acronym as a bare list.
- Know what PAD is. PAD means public access defibrillation: having AEDs placed in public locations so bystanders can use them quickly.
- During: Find an AED fast (without delaying CPR). Check nearby walls, reception desks, sports clubs, pools, gyms, shopping centres, and security desks. Follow AED signage if present. If you are alone, call Triple Zero (000) first and start CPR—do not spend a long time searching.
- During: Delegate clearly if others are present. Point to one person: “You—call Triple Zero (000) and put it on speaker.” Point to another: “You—get the AED.” Clear jobs save time.
- During: Start CPR while the AED is coming. Do not wait for the AED to arrive before starting chest compressions.
- During: Use the AED as instructed. Turn it on, apply pads, stand clear during analysis/shock prompts, then go straight back to CPR.
- After: Prepare a simple handover. Tell responders where the AED came from, what the AED said (shock/no shock), and roughly when CPR started.
A Real-World PAD Scenario
The scene: A community centre is choosing an AED location that is visible and accessible whenever the building is used.
In this PAD scene, begin with P for Public: Available where bystanders, staff or community members may be first on scene. That opening prompt matters here because Use PAD when planning AED placement or understanding why public AEDs matter. ANZCOR recommends public access AED programs for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, alongside early recognition, CPR and fast defibrillation. Keep the observation tied to AED programs, community defibrillators, workplaces, clubs, schools and public spaces; in practice, watch response, airway and whether breathing is normal while emergency help and an AED are organised rather than reciting the letters without checking the person or setting.
For PAD, D closes the pattern as Defibrillation. Using an AED to deliver a shock if the heart rhythm is shockable. Before the sequence is treated as complete, relate it to when the collapse happened, what breathing looked like, when CPR started and whether an AED analysed or shocked. A specific trap to avoid is: Do not wait for a manager before taking an AED to a collapsed person.
Where the scenario could change: Do not hide the AED where visitors or after-hours users cannot reach it. A remembered sequence must never delay CPR, defibrillation or a Triple Zero (000) call. If the facts no longer fit a stable PAD example, stop rehearsing the acronym and move to the safer emergency, clinical or workplace pathway.
PAD and similar terms
Public access defibrillation: making AEDs available in places such as workplaces and sports grounds. It describes access to equipment.
Here is how the related terms differ:
- AED: An automated external defibrillator: a device that checks the heart rhythm and gives spoken instructions. CPR is the hands-on care; the AED is the device used alongside it.
- OHCA: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. It names where the cardiac arrest happened, rather than a different kind of CPR.
- SCA: Sudden cardiac arrest, when the heart suddenly stops pumping effectively. It is different from a heart attack, although a heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest.
- VF: Ventricular fibrillation: a dangerous heart rhythm that can cause cardiac arrest. An AED checks the rhythm; a first aider does not need to identify VF themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What does PAD stand for?
P means Public; A means Access; D means Defibrillation. PAD means Public Access Defibrillation: making AEDs easy for ordinary people to find and use during cardiac arrest.
When is PAD useful?
Use PAD when planning AED placement or understanding why public AEDs matter. ANZCOR recommends public access AED programs for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, alongside early recognition, CPR and fast defibrillation.
Do I need permission to use a public AED?
No. In an emergency, grab it and use it. It is there for rapid bystander use.
What if the person is wet or sweaty?
Dry the chest quickly if needed so pads stick well, then follow AED prompts. Keep the response simple and fast.
Can I use an AED on a child?
Follow your AED’s voice prompts and pad diagrams. Call Triple Zero (000) and follow the operator’s instructions for paediatric situations.
How is PAD different from AED?
PAD is framed here around AED programs, community defibrillators, workplaces, clubs, schools and public spaces. AED is framed around defibrillation, cardiac arrest and public rescue. They may appear in the same course or incident, but they answer different questions and should not be treated as interchangeable.
When should I call Triple Zero (000)?
Call Triple Zero (000) when the person is seriously ill or injured, is deteriorating, or the urgent warning signs described on this page are present. A remembered sequence must never delay CPR, defibrillation or a Triple Zero (000) call.
Related Acronyms
This guide is educational and does not replace accredited first aid training, professional medical advice, or directions from emergency services.
