Livesaving Defibrillation from Zoll, Philips, and Medtronic
Affordable AED Defibrillators
Defibrillators have become affordable enough that they can be bought for home use. If you have a relative who is at risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) then an automated external defibrillator (AED) may be a lifesaving purchase. Several manufacturers make affordable defibrillator models that can be used in the home, includign Medtronic, Zoll, and Philips HeartStart. Usually these run in the price range of $1275 and up, and have training videos and instructions available. As a caregiver or family member, or even as a patient, it is good to know how the system works in case it needs to be used. Most home defibrillators use voice prompts or easy to follow instructions showing where to place the pad, or pads on the chest, when to step back (shocking) and if the condition is actually heart fibrillation that can be treated with the defibrillator. Basically, home systems know when not to shock the heart, which is important to prevent injury to the unconscious patient. Many cases of SCA result in brain damage or death if a defibrillator is not used within the first few minutes. A home defibrillator can be the difference between life and death in these cases. For any case where a defibrillator needs to be used, medical help should be summoned as soon as possible by the person not busy with the defibrillator.
Notes and Special Information
Special note: Note: You can't use a defibrillator on yourself. This is because you would not be conscious long enough to activate it if you really needed it, despite popular movies where men with British accents defibrillate themselves with car batteries.