BLS CPR & First Aid Classes

Late in 2004, the FDA approved the first over the counter AED for home use. This means that you do not need a prescription to purchase it. The only AED currently approved for home use is the Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator. When turned on the AED offers step by step voice instructions to guide you through the process. It literally tells you what to do and eliminates much of the decisions making process for the operator.

Clinical trials are still underway studying the in home use of AED’s. The jury is still out and the results won’t be available for some time. There isn’t any specific criteria listing whether or not and AED is appropriate for your home. This should be considered on and individual basis and after consultation with a doctor. 

Because it is considered part of the standard of care for victims of SCA, and it is so effective, I would expect that companies and organizations will be taking a closer look at the AED in the near future. It is very simple to use and makes responding to victims of SCA so much easier and manageable, not to mention that it increases the victim’s chance of survival.

Organizations need to explore all options available to them and consider whether or not they are providing the current industry standard of care for those who are injured or ill on the job and in the community. The current research and data is clear that AED’s save lives if applied in a timely manner and that they are extremely easy to use. It is also clear that having an AED accessible within a few minutes is more effective then only performing CPR until emergency crews arrive.