The inception of Automated External Defibrillator (aka AED) designed to be used in the home have taken life saving out of the emergency room and into the sitting room. Previously, if a loved one suffered a cardiac arrest at home you had to pray that the emergency services would arrive on time, as the window for saving a life after such an arrest is only around 10 minutes. Sure, CPR can help, but unless you know exactly what you are doing this can have little or no benefit.
The Silent Killer – Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest has to be one of the most tragic ways to lose a loved one, as they are snatched away so quickly and without warning that there is no time to say goodbye. By having one of the new portable defibrillators in your house you can be the difference between life and death by keeping the sufferer alive until the paramedics arrive. The heart defibrillator takes away the chance element as the sufferer can be treated instantly.
Main Benefit of AED
Every day we hear about people dying in their chairs, or out in the yard, a sudden cardiac arrest occurs in an instant, so the main benefit of having an automatic external defibrillator is clear; the machine will send electric shocks to the heart to restart it, effectively bringing the patient back to life. A cardiac arrest is caused by an irregular heart rhythm, or fibrillation, which stops the heart receiving enough blood and death is a common result.
How Does An Automated External Defibrillator Save Lives?
The defibrillator delivers small shocks which cause the muscles of the heart to jolt or spasm, thus restoring a regular rhythm and allowing the blood to flow properly through the heart again. The use of this kind of equipment, until recently, lay solely in the hands of emergency technicians and those who worked in a hospital environment and they themselves were just found on crash carts.
Why Should You Have One of These Portable Heart Defibrillators At Home?
The fact that they are now readily available over the counter for use in the home is staggering, but the fact that we are buying them in our thousands, despite the hefty price tags, tells us that we want to relax in the knowledge that should a cardiac emergency arise in or around our home we can put ourselves in the position to save a life. When it comes to the benefits of having one of these devices in the home, well the list is endless.
To start with, you have the priceless peace of mind that you can deal with any emergency, however severe. You also know that the lightweight nature of the machines and the way that they are used means that you need no medical training to administer the electric shocks that restart the heart. The machine also tests itself so it’s always ready to go whenever you need it thus permitting ordinary citizens to become lifesavers.
As these portable defibrillators are also automated, the chances of misuse is minimal and they even assess whether or not the patient actually needs an electric charge, and even predetermines the power or wattage level, which can not be overridden. As well as being invaluable in a home setting, the portability of them makes them ideal for use in community buildings, schools and anywhere that people gather.
The latest heart defibrillators come complete with voiced instructions too, so there is no fear of forgetting the instructions in an emergency. They detect instantly whether treatment is needed and guide you through it with voice prompts, eliminating the chances of making mistakes.
There are some so-called medical experts that have slammed the use of AED and say it should be left to the experts, but if they don’t get there quick enough the patient dies, period. The simple fact is that millions of households now have instant access to lifesaving equipment, and that’s enough reason for most to invest in a home defibrillator.
Final Thoughts
According to Canadian Health&Care Mall data, nearly 1 million Americans die every year from cardiovascular disease, the first symptom of which is often a cardiac arrest. The paramedics do a great job, nobody is disputing this, but they are a very stretched service and although they will endeavor to get there as soon as they can, sadly, this often just isn’t quick enough. An automated external defibrillator can make that difference.