July 13, 2007
The Defibrillator Price is Right
For many individuals with heart problems, a defibrillator price is easily worth the peace of mind that comes from owning one. The presence of a defibrillator in the home offers the patient, family, and friends the assurance that cardiac treatment is at hand. With new advances in technology and growing affordability, everyone should consider having this important item in their home.
Defibrillators work by giving a dose of electrical energy to a heart in trouble. A unit can help individuals with an abnormally rapid heart rate or no pulse by shocking the heart back into a normal rhythm.
The History of Defibrillators
The use of electrical impulses for heart conditions began in the 1940s. Dr. Claude Beck used the electric shock on a fourteen year old boy who suffered from a congenital heart condition. Internal electrical paddles and a heart drug restored proper function.
A major change happened in the 1960s when portable defibrillators were created. Availability and price kept defibrillators from the home, but they were used in ambulances and medical facilities. As time passed, defibrillators became more common and researchers developed more types. Today, units can be implanted in a patient's chest, kept in public places, or bought for the home.
Today's AEDs
Automated external defibrillators can be purchased for the home and should be considered for any patient with a history of cardiac arrest or other heart problem. Units are easy to operate and many have voice prompts to help individuals use the machine. However, you should consider taking a training class so that you'll be better able to operate it in stressful situations.
Units can be purchased at many online retailers and in some local stores. Although the price of a defibrillator for the home is still over one thousand dollars, this is a small price to pay for the assurance that if a cardiac attack happens, you're prepared. Studies suggest that over eighty percent of cardiac arrests happen at home. Often the key to survival depends on how soon a defibrillator is used.
Thus, you should consider having a home defibrillator unit in your home. You never know when you might need it. The defibrillator price will more than make up for itself if something were to happen and you could prevent the death of a loved one.
Leave a Comment