A Guide to Defibrillators

Owning an at-home defibrillating unit can be a life-saving decision for you or a loved one. Yet for many of us, it’s an unusual household technology with intricacies that may be hard to grasp at first glance. If you’re close to someone with a heart condition and want to be prepared for anything that might arise, this article aims to clarify what you should be looking for and why.

Benefits

Emergency Care for Laypeople:
A defibrillator is used as a last-resort field treatment for a patient experiencing a serious heart failure while not under medical supervision. It simplifies the process doctors use to treat a sudden irregularity in the heart’s rhythm. Using more precise equipment, sometimes implanted during surgery or applied intravenously, doctors are able to monitor the heart’s electrical impulses. In addition, they can apply the right stimulus to reestablish a normal heartbeat during an arrhythmia – a sudden cardiac anomaly that may be life-threatening.

An at-home defibrillator, called an AED for Automated External Defibrillator, automates the process by approximating the required electrical impulse. In this way, a person with little or no medical training can provide sometimes life-saving care in a cardiac crisis.

Ease of Use:
Ease of use is one of the principal features of a good defibrillator. The use of AED’s is part of the Red Cross’s First Aid training, and should be properly understood by those called upon to use it. However, it is designed to be used by those with very little training, and has even been successfully applied by people with no prior training at all.

Peace of Mind:
For those living with heart conditions, having a defibrillator around the house can be very reassuring. Similar to a smoke alarm or a lock on the door, defibrillators can provide owners with security and assurance.

Pitfalls

Cost:
The single biggest factor to consider when purchasing a defibrillator is the cost. Most AED’s on the market are similar in quality, so the cost range is narrow, with units usually going for about $1200. Whatever unit you choose is a significant investment in your health security and should be weighed against your own risks and finances.

Reliable Power Source:
Make sure to keep a fully charged, reliable battery in the unit at all times – most should be replaced every couple of years. It’s a good idea to have a replacement battery handy as well. Considering the nature of the investment, customers may want to purchase a highly-rated battery, such as a lithium battery.

Education and Training:
Despite the unit’s ease of use, it’s important for all those in a position to help to be well trained on the defibrillator. Cardiac episodes are extremely traumatizing for those involved, especially first responders. Therefore, they must fully understand what to do and how to do it if and when the moment comes.

Conclusion

Selecting the right defibrillator is a serious decision, and should be undertaken with a sober understanding of one’s health risks and finances. For some, it may well be an anxiety-inducing and ultimately meaningless purchase. But for those with serious heart conditions and their loved ones, it can be an extremely important – even necessary – household technology. Make sure it’s something you need, and make sure you and those you love know how to use it.