AED - What Is So Special About Having One?

Have you ever tried calling 911, or any emergency response unit for that matter? It is known that emergency medical response teams can take varying amounts of time before arriving at the location, this can range anywhere from 8 to 25 minutes. Precious minutes may be lost just waiting for help. Fortunately, the automated external defibrillator was invented. Maintaining a healthy heart is not just about proper diet and regular exercise, we’ve heard that all too often, and yet in the U.S. about 350000 people die a year because of sudden cardiac arrests, or SCA. We can’t say that not one of them was following the doctor’s orders. You can just never tell when it will occur. That being said, especially for those with a heart condition having an AED at home may just turn out to be one of the best investments ever made. You may have noticed that in some public locations where people congregate there are automated defibrillators on display. They are prominently colored red or yellow, so people can’t miss them. This has become a crucial part in the campaign of reducing deaths due to sudden cardiac arrest. But what if you’re in a place where there is no immediate access to such facilities? Say you’re on a road trip, or at your backyard cooking barbecue, your family or whoever will give assistance cannot possibly go to the nearest deli and ask them: “May I have your Zoll AED please?” Awareness of one’s heart condition is good, but awareness alone will not be enough. Even if you are trained medical personnel without the proper equipment there is not much you could do. There are cases when CPR alone may not be enough. And what if you are NOT a trained medic? What would you do then? This is when a home AED, or portable AED is needed. You can virtually take it anywhere. It is lightweight and very easy to use. These automated external defibrillators usually weigh about 5 kilograms, even less. They are sometimes only as big as laptop bags, sometimes smaller. To have one handy can save lives, as every passing minute waiting for the emergency team decreases a person’s survival by 7-10%. Studies have been conducted, and in most cases the victim’s life may be saved by the use of a defibrillator in the early minutes, usually within 3-4 minutes of the arrest. If every household with a person that has a heart condition own and use a home AED, the chance of survival is increased dramatically. Some would suggest the fully automated model, where in the user only needs to deliver the initial electric shocks, the AED does the rest, if shock is needed it will provide it on its own. There is also the semi automated model, which analyses the victim’s heart rhythm and then prompts the rescuer to apply the electrodes if defibrillation is needed. There are also models which record the ECG data for future reference by the medical personnel. This can be very helpful for a patient’s records. All in all having a portable AED can be very beneficial to people with heart conditions. Not only will your chances of survival increase when the need arises but it will of course give you peace of mind, a form of security for the patient. Instead of waiting for help, start by buying a home AED. It’s like a personal lifesaver. You won’t regret it, I guarantee.