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This is a great story about the power of AEDs to save lives. I lost a younger cousin almost 15 years ago [1] but since then my aunt and uncle have worked tirel

by smoyer 12y ago

This is a great story about the power of AEDs to save lives. I lost a younger cousin almost 15 years ago [1] but since then my aunt and uncle have worked tirelessly to have them put in public places around our state (and others). My sister's place-of-employment installed several and two people have been saved just there. There are hundreds of stories like this one and you can help. Take an AED training class - Make sure they're installed in public places in your area - Donate to make sure they're installed in other places. The life you save might be your own! [1] http://gregaed.org/ http://gregaed.org/

szczys 12y ago
Yeah, I found Chris' mention of having to deal with different regulations from state to state (which only allowed an MD to administer shocks to a patient) an interesting tidbit that went along with bringing this to market. I understand why those were in place and am glad that the tech has become reliable enough to loosen those restrictions.
- imglorp 12y ago
  Such regs are costing lives. There have been studies where AEDs were put in airports and such and lay persons successfully followed the directions and saved lives with them. They're very dummy proof at this point: place sticky pads where a picture shows you, turn it on, and follow the voice prompts. Even if you don't know CPR, you can help by trying this. As further safety, the DSP software has a bunch of safeguards to only shock the types of bad rhythms it knows how to correct, so it can't hurt a normal person if the AED is mistakenly applied; it can only help a v-fib one. Training won't hurt; the Red Cross course for combined CPR and AED is only a few hours. But there is benefit from none at all. I've personally brought someone back with an AED and the experience changed my life.
  - lucaspiller 12y ago
    In the UK the Resucitation Council issued a statement in 2009 recommending that they can be used by anyone, even without training: https://www.resus.org.uk/pages/AEDtrnst.htm https://www.resus.org.uk/pages/AEDtrnst.htm They are still few and far between, outside of big railway stations I haven't seen any in public. I think one of the issues is people are unfamiliar with how easy they are to use. All workplaces (above a certain, fairly low, level) are required to have first aid trained staff around at all times. The training only includes CPR though; adding AED training seems like an easy way to make people a lot more aware of them.
    - imglorp 12y ago
      They're getting pretty common in US workplaces, especially health clubs, airports, liability-aware offices, etc. Some here are in a cabinet that phones emergency services when the AED is removed; that's an especially good feature.
deleted 12y ago
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xenadu02 12y ago
I suspect they'll eventually be cheap and reliable enough that most homes have one, just like smoke detectors.
- throwaway49873 12y ago
  Just have to wait for all the patents to expire I guess.

by smoyer 12y ago

szczys 12y ago

Yeah, I found Chris' mention of having to deal with different regulations from state to state (which only allowed an MD to administer shocks to a patient) an interesting tidbit that went along with bringing this to market. I understand why those were in place and am glad that the tech has become reliable enough to loosen those restrictions.

imglorp 12y ago
Such regs are costing lives. There have been studies where AEDs were put in airports and such and lay persons successfully followed the directions and saved lives with them. They're very dummy proof at this point: place sticky pads where a picture shows you, turn it on, and follow the voice prompts. Even if you don't know CPR, you can help by trying this. As further safety, the DSP software has a bunch of safeguards to only shock the types of bad rhythms it knows how to correct, so it can't hurt a normal person if the AED is mistakenly applied; it can only help a v-fib one. Training won't hurt; the Red Cross course for combined CPR and AED is only a few hours. But there is benefit from none at all. I've personally brought someone back with an AED and the experience changed my life.
- lucaspiller 12y ago
  In the UK the Resucitation Council issued a statement in 2009 recommending that they can be used by anyone, even without training: https://www.resus.org.uk/pages/AEDtrnst.htm https://www.resus.org.uk/pages/AEDtrnst.htm They are still few and far between, outside of big railway stations I haven't seen any in public. I think one of the issues is people are unfamiliar with how easy they are to use. All workplaces (above a certain, fairly low, level) are required to have first aid trained staff around at all times. The training only includes CPR though; adding AED training seems like an easy way to make people a lot more aware of them.
  - imglorp 12y ago
    They're getting pretty common in US workplaces, especially health clubs, airports, liability-aware offices, etc. Some here are in a cabinet that phones emergency services when the AED is removed; that's an especially good feature.

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

xenadu02 12y ago

I suspect they'll eventually be cheap and reliable enough that most homes have one, just like smoke detectors.

throwaway49873 12y ago
Just have to wait for all the patents to expire I guess.