Here are some customer reviews of
Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator (AED)
: This is great to see. I worked as a lifeguard and we used HeartStart AED's in our facility and they could mean the difference between life and death in a cardiac arrest situation. Parents, they could save your child's life in a swimming accident. It also could make the difference with elderly when a sudden heart attack occurs. Death is certain after only five minutes without oxygen. Sometimes the ambulance just won't be fast enough. Take it into your own hands!
A defibrillator is a great tool, in the hands of a professional. This nto somethgin that should be lying around every home "Just waiting to be used".
Learn the indicators for a heart attack and get rapid access to your EMS system and Emergency Room Doctors.
I work as an EHS engineer in a manufacturing setting. We have purchased some heartstart defibs for our facilities. AED are a wonderful device that has the opportunity to save FAR MORE lives than CPR alone.
These devices have human studies that show an 89% success rate on first shock.
Simply do some research to learn how important these devices are. For the individual that complained about not being to use it on yourself, that is just dumb. You don;t want to shock someone's heart if it is still working, the shock would kill them. That is why this device will only allow a shock to be given if the patient's heart has stopped (the machien does all the work). It is truly a lifesaver and $1500 is a great price compared to the $3000 price tag of 2 years ago.
Others that review this device and do not like it must not actually know much about AED's, CPR, etc.
Though I am a doctor, this review should not be interpreted as medical advice as I am not aware of your personal risk of heart disease. The decision to buy one of these is up to you and your physician. Below I explain why I am considering betting one of these, factors that may influence your decision to by one for your home, and why as a business owner you may want to get one.
I do not own this product but am looking to get one for my car/home. I am doing so because as a physician I have saved lives with these devices in the hospital. I know how critical it is to rapidly correct short circuits in the largest portion of the heart, called the ventricles. These short circuits, known as v tach or v fib can only be reliably fixed within several minutes of onset. Even if you dial 911 it may be too late by the time paramedics arrive.
On the other hand the chance that any single person will need one of these devices is low. And the cost is not cheap!
Things that you may want to factor into your decision to buy one of these devices is whether you have someone in your family who is at moderate risk for heart disease and short circuits. For example someone with a prior heart attack but who still has a strong heart might consider having one of these (people with weak hearts may actually want to have a defibrillator implanted into their skin). If you live alone this would not be a wise choice since someone else will need to use if on you. I think it would be wise to be trained in Basic Life Saving if you want to use this devise to prevent inappropriate use that may be harmful. Also you definitely need to keep this out of the reach of kids.
So if you are someone at risk for a short circuit of your heart, live with someone who can get trained in life saving, have the money, and especially if you live a long way from a paramedic, think about buying one of these devices. Things such as food, medication, heat are much more important however.
If you own/run a business with customers or employees over 50 years old, such as a health club or restaurant, get one and get trained. You could save the life of a customer or employee, which is wonderful in many ways. I also guarantee you there is a lawyer waiting for one of your patrons to have a heart attack and die at your business and sue you for millions because "you were too cheap" to buy one of these. So both from a humanity, good business, and liability standpoint this is a wise investment for a business owner.
 An AED is a wonderful item to have if you or a loved-one have an existing heart condition or significant family history of such (talk to your health provider), especially if you live in an medically underserved area.
Agreeing with another reviewer, in many ways and in many places taking a CPR course may be more helpful (and economical). Take a training course in AED use prior to using this type of equipment. There are risks involved for the operator and patient if improperly used.
Contrary to information provided in some of the reviews, AED's are designed not to shock on demand, but only when particular heart rhythms are recognized by the machine.
As with any health care product, please speak with your health care provider (MD, PA, NP, ND, DO, etc.) prior to purchasing or using this equipment. It is not appropriate for every household.
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