Should I Buy an AED?

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death each year in the United States. SCA occurs suddenly and it can happen to anyone at any time. A person can abruptly collapse at home, work or out in public. The person loses consciousness, stops breathing, and has no pulse within moments after collapsing. The only way to improve their condition is with immediate defibrillation. AEDs for home, business, community and other settings are purchased with one goal in mind: save lives..

When the heart’s electrical rhythm becomes erratic, it leads to an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, which prevents your heart from supplying sufficient blood to your brain and other vital organs. Emergency response times can take up to 12 minutes, and each minute defibrillation is delayed reduces the chances of survival by 10 percent.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is the only life-saving device which can be used to shock a person out of cardiac arrest to save their life. You don’t have to be a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional to successfully use an AED. Stop to think about what would happen if someone suffered SCA in your place of business. With all of this in mind, it is imperative your business have this life-saving device. You could save a life by having an AED on hand in a life-threatening emergency.

With an AED, you or anyone nearby can act quickly to shock the victim while waiting for emergency medical help to arrive. Using an AED increases survival rates by up to 50%.

Most AEDs operate similarly, and are designed for non-medical professionals to use during a cardiac emergency. The devices have voice and visual prompts to guide you through a step-by-step process that evaluates the victim’s condition and administers a shock only if necessary to restore a normal heart rhythm. Some devices will even walk you through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and let you know if it is being administered properly.

While training to use the AED device is not mandatory in all states, formal training to learn CPR and how to properly use the AED is recommended. You should start the rescue of a SCA patient by giving him or her CPR while turning on the AED. Together, CPR and the AED give the patient suffering from cardiac arrest a better chance of survival than just one method alone.

You can find reasonably priced training for using AED devices and performing CPR. Also, most AEDs come with a demonstration or set-up video to help with understanding the basics of operating the device.

Prices for AEDs vary, so choose one you can afford and one which you and anyone using the device would likely feel comfortable operating. Don’t forget to take into account the cost of maintaining the device and necessary supplies as well. Consider the following along with your AED purchase:

• Extra battery
• Additional electrodes
• Carrying case
• Wall signs that point out AED location
• Wall cabinet (see our Package Specials)

AEDs can save lives anywhere, so getting them in the hands of more people who can use them is important. SCA can happen to anyone, of any age and anywhere: when traveling, shopping, working or at school. It’s important to inform others of the fact that this device can save lives when used while waiting for emergency medical assistance to arrive. The use of an AED in those few minutes can greatly change a person’s life, even a family’s life.

If your business does not have an AED, or you need to buy an AED, contact AED Superstore today to learn how easy it can be to save a life. You can also learn about the best aeds for home in our updated 2021 article.