Hi, posting on behalf of my husband he recently had a major heart attack and we would like to buy a fully automatic defibrillator. The BHF website advises contacting the local ambulance service which I did a week ago but despite chasing them up I still have not had a reply even advising we would be happy for them to log the location.
I realise it might be an uncommon request to want to personally buy one, but we do have a small business & it would be located either at work or home, basically it would be with him at all times. Neither of us are First Aid trained but I understand the automatic ones are self explanatory, the prices varies and we would obviously want to buy from a reputable company, any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
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If you don't have any luck with the ambulance service. Then your local hospital will have either a cardiac rehabilitation or resuscitation training nurse they may be able to advise.
It's a great idea to have one at home or work but a word of warning it is impossible to have it with him 24/7. Think about it carefully and don't get obsessed that he must have it with him at all times. It's just not practical. The only solution to having a defibrillator with you 24/7 is an implanted ICD. My partner has one as he has long QT syndrome and has survived two cardiac arrests.
Thank you Ron, my husband does have to go back for further treatment his main LAD artery was totally blocked, they fitted 3 stents but he was not presenting the typical symptoms of someone having a chronic heart attack, he also has others that are narrowed & naturally this has made us nervous we don't know what his future prospects are he is 67 hopefully he will make a full recovery. We have a small family business which is only 10 mins from home on an Industrial site so our thinking was that a Defib could be beneficial at that location too, I appreciate your advice.
It must be a really worrying time for you and your husband. These things happen so suddenly. Others have given you great advise about supplies, so hopefully you can source what you need. Getting yourself and others trained in CPR and defibrillator use is also a good idea. I know the automatic defib's are very easy but I would still seek some training so that you feel fully confident in the very unlikely event that you need to use this. This BHF link may be of use to you:
When my partner first came home I wouldn't let him out of my sight for weeks. Now we are 10 months on and life is starting to get back to normal. We have even taken our third holiday now. Believe me in a few months you will be in a better place.
Please both go on the training course, its worth it just for the confidence it gives that you have some idea what to do and expect
I suspect that somewhere on the BHF website there is more info on defibbs that can be bought. There are a number of types and brands as far as I can see.
You don't require training to use them as they talk to you and give instructions. They also read the rhythm and determine whether it is shockable. Ipads are one well known brand that are used widely and I think they do a mini version too.
Hi St John supplies is part of St John Ambulance and supplies all medical needs of the voluntary service and other ambulance services. Members of the public can also order off them.
They would be glad to help.
They will have various models of AED to suit most budgets.
Including training courses for AED/Defibrillators and CPR should you require it.
By all means get a defibrillator but how about clearing his arteries out!
I recommend that you watch the film "Forks Over Knives". It is on Netflix and YouTube. It is about global medical heart research and the findings, including a massive study of 800,000 Chinese people. You might find it helpful, I did.
Officially, I had 5 blocked arteries, 4 of which have been bypassed in 1997. I had a mini-stroke at Christmas 2017. Since March I have been following a WFPB (whole food plant based) diet after watching the film. My weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and pulse have come down to "normal" levels (80kg, 100/60, 2.7, 60bpm), sometimes lower, such that my doctor has been reducing my medication. She has taken me off the statin and the diuretic. I am convinced that my arteries are clearing but I have no proof of that except for blood pressure, cholesterol and pulse. If my arteries were still blocked these would be still raised.
I could still have a heart attack but I have reduced the chances massively.
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