Who Should Have an AED at Home?

Based on our research, we recommend that everyone have an AED at home. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s especially important for the elderly and those who have heart disease or a family history of coronary artery disease. Other risk factors include:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• A sedentary lifestyle

The Centers for Disease Control reports that about 350,000 sudden cardiac arrests (SCA) occur outside of hospitals each year — and about 7 in 10 of those happen at home. Sadly, nearly half of the people who experience cardiac arrests at home don’t get the help they need from family members, friends, or other bystanders before emergency responders arrive.

However, if someone begins CPR and uses an AED within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, it can double or triple a person’s chance of survival (CDC). 

Best of all, anyone can use an AED. If you or someone you love suffers from heart disease, you may be thinking about purchasing an AED for your home.

What’s the best AED for Home Use?

You’ll want to find an AED that’s easy to use, provides clear CPR instructions, and doesn’t take up a lot of space. To simplify things, we’ve put together an AED package for home use that includes everything you’ll need to be prepared.

Currently, the only AED approved by the FDA for personal use is the Philips HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator. 

The Philips HeartStart OnSite AED is the only defibrillator on the market that’s available for home use without a physician’s prescription. Its user-friendly and compact design (the tiny-but-mighty AED weighs just over three pounds!) makes it perfect for use by both laypeople and experienced rescuers. 

The HeartStart Onsite features loud and clear voice prompts to guide users through simple, step-by-step instructions. Making it easier for lay rescuers to respond effectively during an emergency — for instance when your parent or spouse is experiencing SCA! In addition to audio prompts, simple text and visual instructions provide additional guidance. 

All you need to do to activate the devices is to pull the green tab on the front of the AED and follow the instructions. The pre-installed pads are designed with clear diagrams for pad placement and an automatic metronome helps you pace the delivery of chest compressions and rescue breathing. The device will only deliver a shock as needed, so you don’t have to worry about shocking a healthy heart!

For more information about purchasing an AED for your home, visit AED.com or call Cardio Partners at 866-349-4363. We also welcome your emails; you can reach us at customerservice@cardiopartners.com.

DISCLAIMER: Information and resources found on the cardiopartners.com and aed.com websites/blogs is intended to educate, inform, and motivate readers to make their health and wellness decisions after consulting with their healthcare provider. The authors are not healthcare providers. NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.