If you’ve ever been in the hospital or have had a heart attack, you’ve probably used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). But did you know that you can also buy a home version? In fact, many people with heart conditions have bought AEDs for home use, and the number of AEDs available in the community has increased with the drop in prices. However, many medical professionals have voiced concerns about the home use of AEDs without any training. Most manufacturers recommend that you check your AED on a regular basis, but some don’t require a power source or have a built-in self-check.
Cost of an AED
The cost of automated external defibrillators (AED) varies greatly. The primary costs associated with the machine are the batteries and electrode pads. Lead-acid batteries run $150 per pair and must be replaced every two years. Lithium batteries are a bit cheaper, costing around $100 to $300 a pair, and need to be replaced every one to five years. Additionally, electrode pads need to be replaced every year or so. The pads must be kept dry, so be sure to have a spare pair.
An AED will cost anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000, depending on the model. Some AED manufacturers offer lease-to-own options at a monthly rate of around $200. The initial training will cost $100 per officer, with refresher training every four months. This can add up to over $1,300 if you need to replace a battery every two years. AEDs last about five years with normal use.
Placement in public spaces
An Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, is a device that can shock the heart and restore circulation to the person in cardiac arrest. AEDs are a vital part of public access defibrillation programs. The European Resuscitation Council recommends placing AEDs in public spaces to increase access to lifesaving medical care. In a recent study, the city of Copenhagen installed 104 AEDs in public spaces. The study found that the number of cardiac arrests in the public spaces reached was approximately 20 times higher than the national average.
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A number of public spaces have high levels of cardiac arrest, making them an ideal location for an AED. Those high-traffic public places are gyms, arenas, golf courses, schools, and airports. Additional public spaces may be added as more information becomes available. But what types of places would benefit from an AED? The study aims to identify common locations where cardiac arrests occur and plan for their placement.
Cases in which an AED could save a life
Since the first federal law concerning AEDs was signed into law in 1998, all 50 states have passed laws requiring public access to these life-saving devices. These laws have also made AED training mandatory and require that AEDs be maintained and tested. Some states have added laws for Good Samaritan protection. Despite the many benefits of using an AED, the legal and policy issues surrounding AED use are still complex.
The first of these situations is sudden cardiac arrest, in which a person goes unconscious and does not breathe. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s rhythm becomes abnormal, such as ventricular fibrillation, causing the heart to stop pumping blood. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) delivers an electric shock to the heart muscle. This shock stops the abnormal heart rhythm and allows the heart to restart. It’s important to remember that a person who has undergone sudden cardiac arrest should receive only a shock from an AED if he is unconscious and non-breathing.
How to register an AED
If you have an AED in your home, office, or anywhere you may find a victim in need of an instant lifesaving device, you should consider registering it. By doing so, you can receive email reminders for battery or electrode expiration. Registering your AED also informs emergency services about your AED. By registering an AED, you become a more responsible owner and a more valuable lifesaving tool for your building and community.
You can register your AED by filling out an online form or mailing it in to the fire department. Alternatively, you can email the form to the Fire and EMS department. In either case, it is vital to be sure your device is registered and ready to use at all times. In addition, you must ensure it is registered with your Regional Council. It is important to register an AED with the emergency medical services system in your area, so that it can be quickly accessed in case of a Defibrillator emergency.
