Anyone have an AED at home?

[vash]

I just hung two up at our office. The office population grew enough we could get some.

Got me thinking. At home, it could be helpful. I am getting to a level of patina where , well you know.

I am surrounded by elderly. Chest compressions vs and AED is no contest. According to our CPR instructor. Anyone have one at home?

[masraum]

Interesting. I've seen them hanging around at a few jobs, but never in a million years thought about having one at home. But it seems like a good idea assuming that the cost isn't crazy (and even if it is expensive, it's probably a lot less trouble than someone having to go through probate).

[masraum]

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-arrhythmia/in-depth/automated-external-defibrillators/art-20043909

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.

[masraum]

Just in case anyone wasn't aware...

An AED should not be used if the person is conscious, has a pulse, is breathing, or is lying in water or near a flammable substance.

[vash]

It won’t fire a charge until it reads the persons vitals. A pleasant voice chimes in. “ pulse detected, will not discharge - call 911 fool!”

Or “ no pulse detected, do not touch subject - firing “

Paraphrasing here.

[Tobra]

Cheap insurance.

Sort of like the tourniquet I keep in the car, probably never use it


If you ever need it, you need it NOW

[masraum]

aed.com has 3 that are categorized for home use with prices ranging from $850 - 1800.

But there are other websites that seem to have them down to ~$500.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by vash

It won’t fire a charge until it reads the persons vitals. A pleasant voice chimes in. “ pulse detected, will not discharge - call 911 fool!”

Or “ no pulse detected, do not touch subject - firing “

Paraphrasing here.

I guess that intelligence is why we aren't all out there looking at a "DIY AED" youtube video with one of these sitting next to us.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by vash

It won’t fire a charge until it reads the persons vitals. A pleasant voice chimes in. “ pulse detected, will not discharge - call 911 fool!”

Or “ no pulse detected, do not touch subject - firing “

Paraphrasing here.

I was going to say that. Can’t use it on oneself…?

Some of my coworker’s parents had heart attacks in the middle of the night. Apple Watch gave the vitals at the end… I don’t think an AED would save them.

[jhynesrockmtn]

My buddy has a type of heart disease where he ended up with an implantable one. So, technically he has one at home. It fired 3 times while he was in the water resting between water ski runs. You get 5 cycles in one session and if it doesn't bring you back, you are dead. Luckily the 3rd time brought him back.

[Tishabet]

I have one that is technically in my home, but really it is part of my wilderness first responder kit. They can be surprisingly small/lightweight, and if you buy one used you can often find them at around the $500 price point. As you already pointed out Vash, the difference in outcomes with an AED vs CPR is pretty huge.

[craigster59]

AED's essentially take the chance for human error out of the equation when used in an emergency. It reads rates and rhythms and adjusts Joules accordingly.

Funny enough film directors hate them. They still want to do the old squeeze the gel on the paddles and yell "CLEAR!".

The manufacturers operate on "the razor blade theory". Sell you the AED at a reasonable price and screw you on the disposable pads.

[juanbenae]

The last City I worked for made a big deal about the 20 something units they placed around the city hall, corp yards, offsite city offices, the community and senior centers. Thing was they sent out emails and press releases on it but provided no real training on how to use them for us rank & file....

The poor saps that were made each department's safety officer had to attend a power point deal that showed how to use the unit... Never even unwrapped one, or put it on the Resusa-annie CPR dolly...

You know, the safety officer that was appointed by the department head, gets a lime green vest, a clipboard with a list of staff and the map to the group's disaster meet up place is. Our officer said they had tea, coffee, a few breakfast bars for them attending the training and had to sign a document saying they were trainable...

Our officer Belle was thrilled to get off the phones that morning, have a sip of tea and stuffing a couple free granola bars in her purse before they cut them loose....

[unclebilly]

Yup. You have 4-7 minutes without oxygenated blood flow before irreversible brain damage WILL occur.

Nobody is getting to our place with an AED in 4-7 minutes.

I bought one 8 or so years ago and have changed the batteries and kept it up. My neighbors know I have it in case they need it.

[unclebilly]

Yup. You have 4-7 minutes without oxygenated blood flow before irreversible brain damage WILL occur.

Nobody is getting to our place with an AED in 4-7 minutes.

I bought one 8 or so years ago and have changed the batteries and kept it up. My neighbors know I have it in case they need it.

[dw1]

I have one and I also have a full-function patient monitor at home, as well as having an investigational CPR device originally fabricated as a "spare" for a clinical study.

I have these as a consequence of the work I used to do (well...I still do a bit of consulting...), but as I've gotten older I've realized the value of having these available. Having a known accurate BP & pulse ox pleth monitoring is good for one's peace of mind, and every month or so I check my own EKG because of a family history of afib and other issues.

By the way, the 4-7 minutes quoted above is a good estimate. I've also seen 3 to 10 minutes, but shorter is, of course, better and points to the need to start CPR quickly.

[dw1]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Yup. You have 4-7 minutes without oxygenated blood flow before irreversible brain damage WILL occur.

That is why one needs to start giving CPR ASAP.

If CPR is delivered correctly, it provides both coronary and cerebral perfusion.

It is unfortunate that most people don't understand that CPR and AED work most effectively together - CPR to keep the oxygenated blood flowing and AED to shock the heart back to a normal sinus rhythm.

[dw1]

Originally Posted by vash

... Chest compressions vs and AED is no contest. According to our CPR instructor.....

It is not a matter of chest compressions vs AED because even with an AED one should be doing chest compressions. If fact, several of the AED's I am familiar with give the operator voice prompt instructions to do so.

I suspect what your instructor meant was "...CPR chest compressions alone vs CPR with an AED is no contest" and I would agree.

While one could get ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation) with CPR alone, it is quite unlikely. CPR is delivered to keep the oxygenated blood flowing and a defibrillator (e.g. AED) delivers electrical current to the heart to end the arrhythmia, bringing it back to a normal sinus rhythm.

Oh, and figure on spending $1500 - $2000 for a good one for home use. Personally, I like Zoll, Physio-Control & Phillips, but that is based on experience with their "professional" clinical-use equipment.

AND GET GOOD AED & CPR TRAINING! You DO NOT want to be figuring out how to use an AED when you need it most.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by dw1

It is not a matter of chest compressions vs AED because even with an AED one should be doing chest compressions. If fact, several of the AED's I am familiar with give the operator voice prompt instructions to do so.

I suspect what your instructor meant was "...CPR chest compressions alone vs CPR with an AED is no contest" and I would agree.

While one could get ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation) with CPR alone, it is quite unlikely. CPR is delivered to keep the oxygenated blood flowing and a defibrillator (e.g. AED) delivers electrical current to the heart to end the arrhythmia, bringing it back to a normal sinus rhythm.

Oh, and figure on spending $1500 - $2000 for a good one for home use. Personally, I like Zoll, Physio-Control & Phillips, but that is based on experience with their "professional" clinical-use equipment.

AND GET GOOD AED & CPR TRAINING! You DO NOT want to be figuring out how to use an AED when you need it most.

This seems like a valuable, information packed post!