The AED Superstore Weblog

Study: daily aspirin regimen for healthy people may not be a good idea

 

A daily low-dose aspirin regimen is common for heart attack patients to prevent future occurrences. A report of a study released today suggests that healthy people may want to consider taking a pass. The study found that the risk of bleeding may outweigh the cardiac benefit.

Is AED placement a "black art?" It's about response time!

The headline to this post could also read "How many AEDs do I need for my company?" or "How do I know how many AEDs to buy?" Most of these questions follow the same theme. And they can lead to lots of discussion or stress when you try to account for locked and secluded areas of your facility, the number of people who work there, the average employee's age, number of buildings on the property, the location of the closest EMS agency, and on and on.

Ask anyone with good intentions to perform an AED site assessment for you and you'll realize quickly the process fits definition #2 of "black art."

To help you eliminate most "what if" questions, we recommend using the simple 3 to 5 minute "drop to shock" standard found in the American Heart Association's AED Implementation Guide.

This is what it means: place AEDs so that anyone in cardiac arrest anywhere on the premises can receive a shock within 3 to 5 minutes of the onset of the condition. The questions above are no longer as relevant if you understand TIME is the critical factor. If locked doors, elevators, multiple buildings, etc. interfere with a 3 to 5 minute treatment time, then extra devices are recommended.

So where did this rule-of-thumb come from?  The AED implementation Guide was written using results from American Heart Association research. For every minute that defibrillation is delayed, a patient's chance of survival decreases by as much as 10 per cent. A 5 minute AED delay reduces a patient's odds of resuscitation to "50/50."

Response time is precisely the reason EMS agencies nationwide have low cardiac arrest resuscitation rates in the field.

You can bridge the response time gap with enough properly located AEDs at your workplace!

FAQ: What is the long-term cost of AED ownership?

 

One question we are often asked is, "how much is owning an AED going to cost me over the years?" An excellent question! Let's see if we can answer this clearly, and possibly dispel some misconceptions along the way.

After the initial purchase of your AED, the only costs you'll incur, other than the cost of any optional accessories you may desire, will be the cost of consumables:  electrode pads and batteries. One misconception is the feeling that you will be "constantly changing the pads and batteries."  The fact is, even though each manufacturer's electrodes and batteries may vary slightly with regard to price and expiration dates, a good rule of thumb is 2 years for electrodes, 4 - 5 years for batteries. You are going to change the oil in your car more often than that!

One way to figure your long term cost is to take the cost of the electrode pads times 2, and the cost of the battery, add them together, then divide by 4. This will give you your cost per year for your consumables. There are exceptions with the various manufacturers when it comes to electrode pads' shelf-life and battery life expectancy, but this is a good, general equation to amortize your long-term cost of ownership. It is also a good way to help evaluate which AED may be right for you and your AED Program.

AED Outlet Grand Opening!!!

The AED Superstore is proud to announce the Grand Opening of our newest endeavor, the AED Outlet! Looking for a great price on a previously-owned AED? How about a great deal on an "open-box return"? Well, look no further! We've got 'em and you can get in on the bargain rush at the AED Outlet!

All our pre-owned AEDs undergo a complete, in-depth inspection, making sure there are no current corrective actions outstanding on the unit, and that it passes its operational self-test. We will also include an unprecedented 3-year warranty on each pre-owned AED sold.

What is an AED Outlet "Open Box Special?" Suppose we send an order to a customer, who then decides they’ve changed their mind and no longer want it. It’s no longer new, yet it hasn’t been used. What do we do? We sell it on the AEDOutlet as an “Open Box Special!” We thoroughly inspect the item upon its return, and then offer it to you at an incredible price! Our Open Box Specials feature the same OEM components and include the full manufacturer’s warranty. Spend less, save more!!! 

So, when you have a moment, check it out! We're sure you are going to be pleasantly surprised when you see what's available, and more importantly, extremely affordable. And while you're there, check out the AED Annex. Here, you'll find our "scratch and dent" inventory, also at incredible prices! Check us out, and let the savings begin! 

Remember, the AED Superstore is already THE place for your complete line of new AEDs and accessories, and now bookmark the AED Outlet as your online source for pre-owned and open box savings!!