If an AED pad would touch a patch on the skin, what should you do?

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When an AED pad would contact a skin patch, the aim is to deliver a safe, effective shock without heating or shunting current through the patch. Remove the patch if it can be done safely, dry the skin, and place the pads near the patch while avoiding direct contact with it. Patches can contain medications or conductive materials that could be heated, cause burns, or be absorbed more quickly by the shock, and the adhesive can interfere with proper pad contact. Dry skin helps the pads adhere and conduct electricity properly.

Placing pads over the patch could concentrate the energy on the patch and potentially burn the skin or alter medication delivery. Ignoring the patch is unsafe because it can cause burns or hinder effective defibrillation. Placing pads far from the patch would not achieve the correct pad placement for an effective shock.