Abstract: Described is a mechanism for removing hair from areas of a human torso in preparation for placing electrode pads of an automated external defibrillator on those areas. A preparation strip has a first pad portion, a second pad portion, and a center portion extending between the first and second pad portions. Dimensions of the strip enable one pad portion to be placed above the right breast while the other pad portion is placed below the left breast. The bottom surface of each pad portion has a contact region with a layer of adhesive effective to adhere to hair on the chest. When the preparation strip is attached to and subsequently separated from the torso, hair adhering to the adhesive layer of each contact region is removed, thus preparing those areas from which the hair is removed for placement of an electrode pad of an automated external defibrillator.