[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by DAVES

Like most things there will be a spun reality. With a heart attack time is or can be the difference between life and death.

We were approached by neighbors to contribute and we did. The pitch was if they got too much they would credit us back. They did get too much rather than issue refunds they bought two of them. More recently they were shaking us down for replacement batteries. As I recall from my internet research they are $400 each so $800 for the two in our small section.

Are they faster than EMT-emergency medical from the fire dept? Will the be in the way while struggling to find the key to the locked post. Will the EMT slow their response knowing that we have not one but two defibrillators close by. Are our well meaning amateurs able to diagnose accidental poisoning, drug overdose etc?

Nothing is ever perfect yet we expect demand that it is.

In some cases they will be faster and in others they will not. They are purchased for the cases where they will be faster.

Why in the world would you lock the AED? You want this to be available in an instant to whoever happens to be there. Locking them up and waiting for a key makes them far less useful. EDIT: Because these have been stolen in the past and because it seems Florida law requires AED and CPR training before someone is allowed to use one.

Will the EMT slow their response? Would the EMT like to see his name on the front page of the paper in the article about a death that occurred when the response was slowed?

The well-meaning amateurs don't need to diagnose anything. The "A" in AED takes care of diagnosing whether a shock is necessary.