Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the most common cardiovascular conditions in the population, and an immediate response is necessary in order to prevent complications and preserve vital functions. Heart failure is one of the major causes of sudden and unanticipated death around the world. Research shows that in 90% of cases of sudden cardiac arrest, other people are present in the immediate area, and how they would be willing to participate in resuscitation only if they had appropriate education. Basic resuscitation methods are not sufficient in most cases, and the key to basic human life support is an automatic external defibrillator. In general, the biggest problem lies in the poor education of the population. An automatic external defibrillator (AVD) is a compact, portable device that offers first aid to a person with a sudden cardiac arrest using controlled electric shocks. The possibility of wide application of these devices was emphasized through auditory and visual instructions, with coordinated management of the resuscitation procedure beginning with physical and psychical preparation, analysis of heart rhythms and the provision of electric shocks. In addition to the initial reaction of the environment during a recognized cardiac arrest in a person, it is crucial to call an ambulance as soon as possible, with the average time of ambulance arrival being statistically 8-12 minutes, which emphasizes the importance of immediate reactions. This paper is focused on describing the importance of general application of automatic external defibrillators in the procedures of basic and advanced life support and education about the usage of defibrillators. The paper reports of the human hearth anatomy and physiology, the main actions of the heart muscle and how the defibrillation procedure affects the restoration of blood flow, as well as the history, principle of action, mechanism and method of using an automatic external defibrillator. The paper emphasizes one of the main features in educating the population about resuscitation procedures, and these are the methods of basic and advanced life support.