If you have watched medical programs on the media, you may have experienced a situation where a patient is brought back to life using an automated external defibrillator. The procedure may look complicated because of the situation in which it is applied, but you can do it at home. The only thing you need to note is that the procedure cannot be applied to everyone. If a patient has a certain type of heart problem that AED cannot correct you should not use it. AEDs for home use in Canada do not have any prescriptions. However, the main question you just ask yourself is whether it could be of help to you. If you are you are not sure; it is good to seek advice from your doctor.
Benefits of using a Home AED
A home AED is useful in case someone suffers from cardiac arrest. This is a condition that occurs when there is a disruption and the heart beat faster than normal or turns chaotic. This makes the heart fail to pump the blood in the body effectively. This makes the body organs to get starved of blood. In case of survival, the chances of getting permanent damage of the brain are very high. This calls for need for the problem to be rectified quickly. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a crucial step in the rectification process and allows some blood to flow to your brain and heart for a short period. However, it is only the use of AED that can restore the normal heart rhythm, thus saving the life of the patient.
Best practice when using a Home AED Kit
If a person experience ventricular fibrillation, you should grab the device and connect it to the chest of the patient in order to check the rhythm. If the problem can be resolved, the device helps by sending electrical current to the muscle of the heart. It will normalize the heart rhythm, thus saving your life. However, it is still important to call emergency help first in order to get more assistance in the process. You must start with CPR before turning on your home AED.
Over the counter home AED devices are safe to use. However, you will require prescriptions before purchasing it. It is also important to note that AED to start the heart can only be used on children over the eight years and who weigh more than fifty five pounds.
Where to Learn to Use and AED?
To learn how to effectively use an automated external defibrillator and know when to use one enrol in a first aid and / or CPR course with a workplace approved provider near you.