What should you do if the victim has multiple piercings and jewelry on their chest before applying AED pads?

When using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), it is crucial to ensure proper pad placement for effective heart rhythm analysis and defibrillation. If a victim has multiple piercings and jewelry on their chest, the best course of action is to apply the AED pads and adjust them as necessary to avoid the jewelry. This option allows for the AED to function correctly while minimizing the risk of interference from metallic objects, which could potentially affect the delivery of the shock or the readings taken by the device.

The reason for not removing all jewelry first is that it can take valuable time, especially in an emergency situation where every second counts. Additionally, pressing pads firmly against the jewelry is not advisable, as this could cause burns or prevent the pads from making proper contact with the skin. Skipping the application of AED pads altogether would be detrimental, as defibrillation may be necessary to restore a normal heart rhythm. Therefore, adjusting the pads to avoid jewelry is the practical and effective approach in this scenario.