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The Food and Drug Administration has approved the sales of automated external defibrillators (AED) over the counter to the general public. AED’s were previously only available with a prescription. Business, restaurant and store owners can now purchase AED’s to keep in their establishments. If someone suffers from sudden cardiac arrest while in a public place, they can be treated with an AED piece of new or refurbished medical equipment.
When suffering from cardiac arrest, the victim’s heart begins to fibrillate (beat irregularly). An AED has built-in computers that analyze a person’s heart rhythm and interprets whether their heart requires defibrillation. Voice and visual prompts will guide the user on how to use this medical equipment to administer external electric shocks via conductive adhesive pads.
AED’s come with a training video and also advises users to get training in CPR in case it is needed instead of defibrillation. In the event of a cardiac arrest, users should call 911 immediately.
Businesses that see a large number of customers everyday have a higher likelihood of having someone suffer from cardiac arrest in their establishment. It would be beneficial for all public places to have an AED on site just in case. With more AED’s showing up in public places, the number of people dying from cardiac arrest every year could go down, as long as they get regular check ups on used EKG machines as well.
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