1. A training adapter system for a defibrillator comprising: a pair of patient electrodes; a detector operable to detect the proper placement of the patient electrode pair on a simulated patient and to provide a signal corresponding to the detection; a connector disposed for electrical connection with a defibrillator; an ECG simulator; a defibrillation energy shunt resistor; and a controller which electrically connects the connector with the ECG simulator and the shunt resistor in response to the signal from the detector, thereby bypassing any electrical path from the defibrillator to the pair of patient electrodes.