Why a member of the Defib team took home a defibrillator for a family member preparing for heart surgery

When you think of defibrillators, you often think of the yellow cabinets mounted in your local community or in workplaces in white cabinets.

However, more and more people are now buying defibrillators for home use. And new technology means portable AEDs are available that can be stored in the kitchen cupboard or in your car when you’re travelling.

For one member of our team, Claire, the need to have a defibrillator at home became more apparent than ever. Her father is due to undergo heart surgery, so she decided to purchase a defibrillator to provide additional peace of mind whilst waiting for his operation and during his recovery.

Anyone who buys a home defibrillator hopes it will never be needed but having one at home can enable family members to act quickly in an emergency.

Why should you consider a home defibrillator?

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen without warning and requires immediate action to give the patient the best chances of survival. Statistics from resus.org.uk show that 70-80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home so having a defibrillator on hand at home could make a huge difference in an emergency.

Many people choose to purchase a defibrillator for home use when:

• A loved one has a known heart condition
• A family member is recovering from heart surgery
• Someone in the family has experienced previous cardiac problems
• Elderly relatives live nearby
• They live in an area where public access defibrillators are not immediately available

For Claire’s family, the decision was simple; they want to be prepared after her father’s diagnosis.

Preparing for recovery as a family

While Claire’s father’s surgery will be carried out with the care of experienced healthcare professionals, the family wanted to think about his recovery and the support available at home afterwards.

While we all hope the defibrillator will never be needed and Claire’s father will recover perfectly, having an AED on hand at home provides everyone with a little added reassurance.

“We hope we won’t need the defibrillator but knowing it’s there gives us added peace of mind. Since working at Defib4Life, I’ve seen the impact having one nearby can have in an emergency and it felt like a no brainer to take one home to my dad so we can all feel reassured should an emergency occur,” says Claire.

Learning how to use a defibrillator

For Claire’s family, buying the defibrillator is only part of the story. Once she took it home to her parents, she spent time with her parents showing them exactly how it works.

Together they:

• Opened the device
• Learned how to turn it on
• Discussed what would happen during an emergency
• Talked through when to call 999
• Learned how the pads are applied

Having this knowledge will help Claire’s whole family feel familiar with the device and confident with acting if they need to in an emergency. This familiarity is essential when it comes to cardiac arrest because time is of the essence for improving treatment outcomes in an emergency.

Modern AEDs are simple to use

When it comes to AED use, one of the most common concerns people have is: what if I don’t know how to use it?

Modern defibrillators are designed to be used by anyone, whether trained or untrained. They walk the user through the process step-by-step telling them exactly what to do and when. Some devices even give the user guidance with CPR, telling them whether their compression depth or rate is correct.

Most importantly, a defibrillator will advise or deliver a shock if one is needed. Automatic defibrillators deliver the shock automatically, without needing to press a button and a semi-automatic defibrillator simply prompts the user to press a button if a shock is needed. This helps to remove much of the uncertainty people often feel about using a defibrillator.

Why more families are considering home defibrillators

Defibrillators are usually associated with workplaces and public buildings, but the use of home defibrillators is growing. Many families are recognising the value of having immediate access to a defibrillator, particularly if they have vulnerable relatives at home.

It can offer faster access to a defibrillator, additional peace of mind and reassurance for those who are travelling or who live in more remote areas. As technology improves, AEDs are becoming easier and easier to use and more and more portable, making it easier than ever to have a defibrillator at home.

Owning a defibrillator offers great peace of mind but, knowing where it is, understanding how it works and knowing how to act in an emergency helps many people feel more prepared and helps them to act quickly in an emergency.

Why this family chose to be prepared

For this Defib4Life team member, purchasing a home defibrillator was about more than just preparing for the worst. Claire wanted to take proactive steps towards helping her family feel more prepared whilst waiting for surgery and during her father’s recovery from a major heart operation.

She wanted the reassurance that life-saving equipment would be available to her mother and father at home if it’s needed. Just as importantly, she took the time to show her mum, dad and brother how the defibrillator worked so they felt confident and familiar with the device.

A home defibrillator might not be necessary for everyone but, for families supporting loved ones with heart conditions or recovering from surgery, having immediate access to an AED can provide added reassurance.

Browse our range of home defibrillator bundles here or please contact our customer service team if you’d like further advice on buying the right device for your needs.