The advantages and disadvantages of an automatic electronic defibrillator, or AED, are varied depending on the setting. AED's can be effective instruments in treating cardiac problems before medical professionals arrive, but can be impractical in some applications. AED's are encouraged by the government, but mandatory laws vary from state to state.
SCA
Sudden cardiac arrest is a condition where the heart suddenly stops beating. Also known as a heart attack, SCA occurs when the electrical activity to the heart becomes disrupted and the heartbeat becomes overly fast and chaotic. This change in rhythm destroys your heart's ability to effectively pump blood, starving the brain and organs of oxygen and nutrients. SCA is most effectively treated with a shock from an AED within a few minutes of the SCA.
Public Use
AEDs are commonly kept in industrial and public areas to be accessible to as many people as possible. Many laws exist regarding the placement of AEDs in public buildings, but tend to vary from state to state. AEDs are routinely used by police and emergency service personnel, and are proven to save lives. In addition, AEDs can be used on children as young as eight, who weigh at least 55 pounds.
Private Use
Many proponents of AEDs in residential settings believe that a device proven effective in schools, offices and arenas is equally effective in private homes. These proponents also argue that AEDs in individual homes can save consumers precious minutes before medical health arrives. Home defibrillators are available from a variety of electronics companies and, according to the Phillips company, have been used effectively to save lives.
Disadvantages
Critics of private AED use say there is a lack of reliable evidence stating that home defibrillators are effective. These critics also argue that people with AEDs at home would delay the call for emergency medical services, adversely affecting the patient's chance of survival. Other concerns are the tendency of AED parts to expire, and consumer's forgetfulness regarding the machine's location.
Tags: also argue, also argue that, argue that, before medical, from state, from state state