Home Defibrillators
I never really thought about having an AED in the home, but what a good idea. This from Fox News:
The devices have been popping up on airplanes and in airports, schools, offices, houses of worship, police cars, fitness centers and other public places for the past decade, but just last year, the Philips model was approved for over-the-counter home use without a prescription. The current price is $1,495. Other companies, including Zoll Medical Corp., Samaritan and Defibtech LifeLine, make AEDs that are available with a doctor's prescription.“Nearly 80 percent of cardiac arrests happen in the home,” said Brian Packard, business director of the Philips HeartStart line. “The key to survival is early access to a defibrillator. If you don’t get a defibrillator shock in the first five minutes, your chance of survival is virtually nil.”
This will really take off if the price comes down so regular folks can afford one. Of course, there will be incidents where they are used improperly, but overall, lives will be saved.
Posted October 25, 2005 09:23 AM · Link
· Technology
