The Benefits of Using Home AED

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that can be used to treat a person whose heart has suddenly stopped working. This condition is called sudden cardiac arrest.

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AEDs are available in many public places, such as government buildings, schools, airports and other community spaces. Small, lightweight AEDs are available without a prescription for use at home.

People with severe heart disease who are at risk of sudden cardiac arrest might consider having an AED at home. Talk to your healthcare professional about whether you should buy an AED for your home.

When is an AED needed?

An AED is used to revive someone from sudden cardiac arrest. This usually happens when a problem in the heart's electrical activity causes a dangerously irregular heartbeat. The irregular heartbeat prevents the heart from pumping as it should and causes the heart to stop.

When this happens, the brain and other organs don't get the blood and oxygen they need. Treatment is needed within minutes to prevent death. The sooner the heartbeat is restored, the greater the chance there won't be permanent damage to the brain and other organs.

All AEDs include instructions on when and how to use them. Training on proper use of an AED is recommended. But someone with no training also can use the device to reset the heartbeat of a person who has had a sudden cardiac arrest. Using the AED could possibly save a life.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after cardiac arrest can keep blood flowing to the heart and brain for a time. But often only defibrillation can restore the heartbeat. Together these treatments can improve the chances of survival.

How to use an AED

If someone has fainted or collapsed and an AED is available:

• Check to see if the person is breathing and has a pulse.
• If you cannot feel a pulse and the person is not breathing, call for emergency help. If you're alone, call 911 or emergency services first to make sure help is on the way. If another person is present, one person can call 911 while the other prepares the AED. If other people can help, one person can begin CPR while the AED is being prepared.
• Turn on the AED. The AED gives step-by-step voice instructions. It tells you how to check for breathing and a pulse. It tells you how and where to place the AED pads on the person's bare chest.
• Stand clear and deliver the shock. When the pads are in place, do not touch the person while the AED measures the person's heartbeat. If the machine thinks a shock is needed, it tells the user to stand back and push a button to deliver the shock. Make sure you or no one else is touching the person. Say "stand clear" loudly, and push the shock button. The AED only delivers a shock when needed.
• Start CPR. Begin CPR after the shock is delivered if CPR is still needed. The AED will also guide users through CPR. The process can be repeated as needed until emergency medical teams take over.

Having an AED nearby when needed

Police and ambulance crews carry AEDs. Also, they're commonly found in many public places, such as malls, office buildings, schools, sports arenas, gyms and airplanes. But many cardiac arrests occur at home. Having a home AED may save precious minutes in treating a person who has a sudden cardiac arrest.

Supporters of home AEDs say putting them where they're needed most will save many lives. But critics argue there's not enough evidence to show that home AEDs save more lives.

Deciding if an AED is right for the home

For some people at high risk of cardiac arrest, an AED can provide peace of mind and might help save their lives. Here are some things to keep in mind when considering whether to buy an AED:

• Risk of sudden cardiac arrest. For someone at high risk of sudden cardiac arrest due to a specific heartbeat problem, a healthcare professional will likely recommend an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) rather than an AED. An ICD is implanted in the chest. It's connected to the heart through a wire that can deliver a shock when needed.
• Living arrangements. You need someone with you to use the AED if you have cardiac arrest. And the person needs to be able to get on the floor to use the device and get back up. If you live alone or if the person you live with can't get up and down, a home AED might not make sense.
• Costs. Home AEDs can be expensive and aren't usually covered by insurance.
• Overall health and quality of life. Someone who has serious, long-term medical conditions or hasn't responded to treatment for heart conditions might decide not to be resuscitated from sudden cardiac arrest.

Tips for proper use and maintenance of AEDs

If you are thinking about an AED for your home, here are some tips for buying and maintaining a home AED:

• Buy an AED approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA's website lists approved devices.
• Register the AED with the manufacturer. If there are safety alerts and recall notices, you will be notified. Also, check the manufacturer's website from time to time to keep current on information about your device.
• Learn what you need to know. Consider enrolling yourself and others who might need to use your home AED in a class. The American Red Cross, for example, teaches how to use an automated external defibrillator properly and how to perform CPR.
• Have a practice run using the AED. It's helpful for the people who might need to use an AED to be comfortable checking for a pulse and breathing, following the instructions, and placing pads. It's also important for them to know what to do if a shock isn't required.
• Store your AED in a place that's easy to get to. Make sure family, friends and visitors know where it is.
• Keep the AED working properly. Install new batteries as needed, typically every four years. Replace electrode pads as needed. Have spare pads on hand. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Heed alarms. Home AEDs are designed to test themselves to make sure they're working properly. Be sure you can hear the alarm. If your machine starts beeping or you see a light flashing, call the device manufacturer. Keep the number handy.
• Buy the right AED for you. Some AEDs aren't intended for home use, but rather for use by emergency crews or in public places. Don't be lured by websites or other sellers offering AEDs not intended for home use.

AEDs offer a way to save a life. Before buying one, talk to a healthcare professional and do research. And don't forget to learn the basics, such as CPR.

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Understanding AEDs and Their Importance.

Before discussing the pros and cons of purchasing a home defibrillator, it's helpful to understand what AEDs do and why they are needed.

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Automated External Defibrillators, commonly known as AEDs, are used to revive someone in Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). SCA is a dangerous, life-threatening condition that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. Without a proper heartbeat, victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest will die within minutes. Fortunately, there is a treatment! AEDs treat patients in SCA by safely restarting the heart.

The Critical Statistics

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is not only dangerous, it is also the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of over 350,000 people every year.

The most recent data suggest that 70% of cardiac arrests happen at home, with the vast majority of the victims dying before help arrives. That's 250,000 lives lost each year in American homes. This massive number of people is equivalent to one-third of the population of Seattle, WA dying each year.

Why Time Matters

When Sudden Cardiac Arrest occurs, a person's heart unexpectedly stops beating. Therefore, oxygen-rich blood is not being delivered to the brain and other vital organs. This lack of oxygen causes victims to collapse and become unresponsive. Without oxygen, the chances of survival for cardiac arrest victims decrease quickly by 7-10% for each minute that passes. Therefore, to increase the likelihood of survival, AEDs should be used as fast as possible.

Anyone Can Use an AED

While it is prudent for health care professionals to have AEDs at home, you don't need a medical license to use an AED. They are built for use by anyone! In fact, there are many stories and even research studies about how youth can successfully use AEDs.

Real-Life Perspective

"For us, having an AED at home is very important because we know people at risk. We bought a personal AED for our house in the event that cardiac arrest were to happen at home. It's not unrealistic that we could be walking around the house and suddenly one of us is laying on the floor in sudden cardiac arrest. We want to be prepared with an AED so that we can do something to save a family member in the event of cardiac arrest."

Julia Kawas,
diagnosed with Long QT syndrome at age 14, shares why her family purchased AEDs upon learning that she, her mother, and brother have a potentially lethal heart arrhythmia.

Who Should Buy an AED for Home?

Although some people are more predisposed to cardiac arrest than others, sudden death can happen to anyone, anywhere. SCA affects men and women, young and old, and even those who seem to be in perfect health.

Priority Groups for Home AEDs

While ideally there would be a lifesaving AED in every household, several groups of people should consider purchasing an AED for their home sooner rather than later. Personal defibrillators are ideal for:

• Individuals with known heart problems or a family history of cardiac disease
• Informed AED users such as first responders and healthcare providers
• Other individuals and groups with certain hobbies and lifestyles

Risk Factors and Warning Signs

Unfortunately, the warning signs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest are diverse and can be difficult to identify. SCA can occur without any warning at all. This unpredictability speaks to the importance of preparedness and knowing how to save lives from SCA.

High-Risk Conditions Include:

• Known Cardiac Arrhythmia and Other Heart Conditions
• Family History of Cardiac Conditions
• Previous Warning Signs (chest pain, fainting, shortness of breath)

Informed AED Owners

Informed AED buyers, like firefighters, police officers, EMTs, physicians, and other professionals that know about how and when to use AEDs should consider buying an AED for home use. Even when these individuals are off-duty, the lay public turns to them for help.

Additional Groups to Consider AED Ownership

• Frequent hosts of large gatherings
• People who participate in rural activities
• Pool owners
• Homeowner's association board members/leaders

Where to Place Your Personal AED

Key Placement Guidelines:

1. Make the AED visible
2. Ensure that it's accessible
3. Take it with you on the go

Suggested AED Locations:

• In the hallway next to the thermostat
• On the garage wall
• In the glove box of your car (if the AED is small enough)

Choosing the Best AED for Home Use

Important Factors to Consider:

1. AED Size & Weight
A home AED should be small, lightweight, and easy to carry. This enables you to take it wherever you go, increasing its potential to save lives.

2. Price & Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Consider both:

• Initial purchase price
• Long-term costs (replacement batteries, electrode pads)

3. Pediatric Capabilities
The best AED should be able to function for all ages, including children and infants, preferably with a simple child button rather than requiring separate pediatric pads.

4. Connectivity
Modern AEDs should offer: