Why You Need the Automated External Defibrillators

Those who have watched a television medical drama could have probably seen a person whose heart stops to beat and is suddenly shocked to life by a medical practitioner who says “clear” before delivering an electric jolt to the individual’s chest. This kind of procedure is not just limited to the hospital environment. It can also be administered at home if you possess an automated external defibrillator (AED), a portable and lightweight device that can be given without a prescription. Those with severe heart disease are at risk of getting a sudden cardiac arrest. AEDs help in resuscitating the people who have a certain kind of heart rhythm condition. You must converse with your physician to know whether having an AED will help in saving your life. 

When an AED is required 

AEDs are used in reviving an individual from sudden cardiac arrest. This usually occurs with the disruption of the electrical activity of the heart that leads to the heart beating riskily fast or irregularly. Due to the altered heart rhythm, the heart is incapable of pumping effectively. Arrhythmia stops blood from flowing to the brain and other critical body organs, typically leading to death when not treated in a few minutes. When you survive, you can face permanent damage to the brain or the other organs, thus the sooner the rhythm of the heart is restored, the better for the person.  Click this link for more info.

If you are having ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation and you have an AED close-by, bystanders in public places or family members at home can attach these self-sticking pads to your chest area. The AED will read the heart rhythm and send an electrical current to the heart when the electric shock can correct this rhythm. If it is used within a few minutes, this jolt can restore the heart to its normal rhythm and probably save a life. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after a cardiac arrest can help in keeping the blood flowing to the brain and heart for a while. But in most cases, the only defibrillation will restore the heart to its normal rhythm. 

Deciding Whether the AED is perfect for your House 

For some individuals with a high risk of cardiac arrest, having an AED will offer peace of mind and can help in saving lives. Below are a few things to keep in mind while considering if it is wise to buy the automated external defibrillator or not. Find out more here:  https://www.foremostequipment.com/aed-defibrillator/.

The first thing to consider is your threat of unexpected cardiac arrest. Those who are at high risk of cardiac death because of a particular heart rhythm issue will be recommended to use an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) instead of an AED. You must be with someone to help you use the AED when you get a cardiac arrest. You should also be prepared for the cost since these devices are costly and mostly not covered by insurance. Find out more here: https://www.britannica.com/science/defibrillation#ref1118177.