When an AED is applied to a patient, what should you do while the device is analyzing the heart rhythm?

When an AED is applied to a patient, it is crucial to ensure the device functions correctly without any interference from surrounding actions. During the analysis phase, the AED must clearly assess the patient's heart rhythm to determine if a shock is needed. Any movement or contact with the patient can disrupt the AED's analysis, potentially leading to an incorrect determination of the heart rhythm.

Maintaining a hands-off approach ensures that the AED can accurately evaluate the cardiac condition, thereby increasing the chances of delivering a shock when necessary, which is vital for resuscitation. If someone were to continue CPR or touch the patient during this critical moment, it could compromise the AED's ability to perform its analysis effectively. Therefore, remaining still and not touching the patient is essential for reliable AED operation.