Every year, more and more people find themselves experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). While the uphill trend is a cause for alarm, the age range of those suffering SCA must also be observed.
Moreover, diagnosing this life-threatening condition is challenging as it happens without a warning. Both old and young can be vulnerable to this condition.
For that reason, preparing for these situations is of even greater importance.
In most situations, having quick access to an automatic external defibrillator (AED) can be the difference between life and death. No expense can be spared when it comes to your loved one’s safety.
Read on and learn the facts here as you discover the different benefits of having an AED ready at home.
- AEDs Saves Lives
SCA can happen anywhere and to anyone. They are also known to occur without any warning signs.
These combined elements are what many medical professionals attribute to its alarming survival rate of around 12% only.
Furthermore, it’s reported that SCA occurs seven out of ten times in a person’s home.
Because of such a high rate of occurrence at home, immediate precautionary measures are needed to be taken.
While emergency responders rush to find their way, the time it takes for them to arrive can vary from house to house.
That gap before help arrives is oftentimes the deciding factor on survival rate or permanent damage to the body.
It’s a known fact that using an AED immediately can potentially triple the patient’s survival rate.
Setting up the device is enough to stabilize a patient before medical responders can perform follow-up treatment.
Every minute matters when it comes to saving a life, especially with SCA.
- SCA Can Affect Anyone
SCA is the loss of breathing and consciousness due to the disruption of heart function. The chances of experiencing SCA are significantly increased when a person has other heart conditions.
In addition, a family history of heart conditions can be enough to put you and your family at risk.
Knowing if your family has a history of any of the following conditions can give you a better clue on your risk level:
- Enlarged heart
- Electrical heart problems
- Coronary artery disease
- Valvular heart disease
However, it should be noted that a history of heart disease isn’t the only cause for SCA.
In general, cardiac arrhythmia or the abnormal beat rhythm of the heart is what truly causes SCA.
With this in mind, greater care must be placed if you or your family members are constantly exposed to strenuous activity.
For instance, it is also observed that there is an alarming rise in SCA cases among the younger generation.
Additionally, it’s been reported that many of these young patients were mostly athletic or physically active.
This is the reason why lawmakers are actively pushing for AEDs to become mandatory in public gyms.
Maintaining healthy habits will always be beneficial for people with heart conditions. However, overdoing exercise and activity can be detrimental to them.
A balance of healthy practices and an AED at home can surely give you that much-needed peace of mind.
- Anyone Can Operate An AED
A very understated benefit of an AED is its convenience. It has easy-to-follow instructions, meaning that anyone at home can operate them. Additionally, their compact design allows you to store them in most places without having to take up space in your home.
Much like many of today’s devices, AEDs are automatic and responsive. Most models now introduce features like self-direction.
Simply set up the device and listen. It should be able to verbally guide you along the process.
Health and safety are everyone’s responsibility, especially at home. Whether old or young, everyone can be included in the conversation.
Moreover, having a life-saving device that is easily operatable increases its scope of protection.
- AEDs Are An Excellent Financial Investment
No price can be named when it comes to a person’s health and safety. That being said, having an AED at home may end up as a better financial investment than you initially expected.
As mentioned before, every minute matters when it comes to SCA. Aside from death, failure to immediately respond can result in longer hospital stays.
Additionally, it can cause complications and other medical matters to the patient. All of which can quickly add up to a baffling amount of bills.
While insurance policies may not always cover the cost of an AED, you’ll find that the device quickly pays for itself. Most devices need very little maintenance done.
Furthermore, some warranty policies reach up to 8-10 years in coverage. The cost of safety may not always be as steep as people make it out to be.
Conclusion
While no one wants their loved ones to experience any type of medical emergency, it pays to be prepared.
Having an AED ready and teaching everyone at home how to respond to SCA can greatly increase your family’s chances of survival against SCA.
We hope that this list can be enough reason to buy an AED for the safety of your family members at home.
