Things to Consider Before Investing in a Home Defibrillator: Are Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) More Effective Than CPR in Saving Lives?

Home defibrillators, or AEDs, have definitely saved lives. But some people, including my family doctor, say there are drawbacks. Some say that AEDs are an unnecessary expense because simple compression-only CPR is just as effective in saving the life of someone suffering from cardiac arrest. On the other hand, my local pharmacist believes there are few, if any, downsides to having an AED in every home. The following information will help you decide if a home defibrillator is right for you.

When a person goes into cardiac arrest (as opposed to a heart attack caused by blocked arteries), the heart's electrical activity is disrupted, causing the heart to beat either dangerously fast or chaotically. When the heart's rhythm is irregular, sometimes called "quivering," the heart muscle is unable to pump blood to the brain and other vital organs. The person loses consciousness, and death may occur within a few minutes. If the person survives, there still may be permanent damage to the brain and vital organs if oxygen and the blood supplies were inadequate. Therefore, time is critical when a person goes into sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and the use of a defibrillator or CPR may likely make the difference between life and death.

There are hospital defibrillators like those we've all seen used on television shows, and there are much smaller, portable and less expensive versions called home defibrillators or AEDs. In a hospital setting, medical personnel use defibrillators that send voltage through two paddles that are placed on a patient's chest. The "clear" warning is given, and the patient's body is jolted as the voltage surges.

The smaller AEDs are portable and consist of two pads that are placed on the SCA victim's chest. They come with voice instructions, making it possible for virtually anyone to use an AED in the case of an emergency. Once the pads are in place, the AED will set itself and send voltage to the person's heart. The machine can also determine by the heart's rhythm if a second electrical shock is necessary.