What defibrillator should I buy?

Defibrillators are medical devices, used when someone suffers a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). These can happen to anyone, at any time and often without warning. A sudden cardiac arrest occurs when there is an electrical fault with the heart and is often confused with a heart attack. 

The two vary in that a heart attack is caused when blood flow to the heart is blocked. This results in the person feeling light headed or dizzy, pain spreading across the chest to arms and shortness of breath to name a few. With a heart attack, the patient will remain awake. A sudden cardiac arrest on the other hand is that they appear to not be breathing, they’re not moving and don’t respond to any stimulation such as touch or noise. For both a heart attack and cardiac arrest you must perform CPR but a defibrillator is what will save a life if someone is suffering a cardiac arrest. 

What defibrillator options are there? 

There are many defibrillators available, all designed to be suitable for different environments. For example, children (between one and eight years old) require a lower shock frequency than adults so, a school would require a defibrillator that also includes electrode pads that are suitable for children. 

Other defibrillator options include solutions for robust environments such as if they were stored outside as well as defibrillators which are easy to carry and move around. 

All defibrillators are designed with ease of use in mind. This means that it doesn’t matter if you have years of medical experience or, have never picked up a defibrillator before, you will be able to use one to deliver life saving care. With helpful step-by-step audio and visual guides on most defibrillators, you don’t need to worry about how it should be used. 

Where will your defibrillator be kept? 

Your environment is what will most likely determine which defibrillator you opt for. With so many options available it can be become overwhelming but, don’t worry, we’ve pulled together a list of what to look for depending on where your defibrillator will be. 

Do you work in a school? 

If you work in a school, you need your defibrillator to be suitable for both adults and children. As sudden cardiac arrests can happen to anyone at any time, children can unfortunately suffer from them as well. Defibrillators for schools needs to be robust and long-lasting. Although any defibrillator in theory could be used in a school, a defibrillator that has the ability to switch from adult to child mode can save precious seconds. Take a look here for our chosen school defibrillators. 

Do you work in an office? 

Around 10,000 people suffer a sudden cardiac arrest whilst at work every year. Having a defibrillator in your workplace can change this statistic. Defibrillators that have clear, loud instructions are useful in often noisy office environments. Your defibrillator will also need to be easily accessible in the event of an emergency. Here are our most suitable office defibrillators. 

Are you in the local community a lot? 

When out and about in your local town, village or city centre, you may see a defibrillator mounted on a wall. This is called a community defibrillator or, public access defibrillator (PAD). These are designed to be used by any member of the public in the event of an emergency. The defibrillator will be stored in a locked cabinet which will usually require a passcode (this is obtained by calling the emergency services). Take a look at our community defibrillators here. 

Do you visit or work in a sports centre? 

Defibrillators are an essential tool in sports facilities. They provide peace of mind should an emergency occur. There has been a number of high profile cases in the news over recent years regarding sports players suffering cardiac arrests. This highlights the importance of defibrillators and the difference they can truly make. Here are our recommended defibrillators for sports centres. 

Do you want a personal defibrillator for your home? 

Many people opt to have a defibrillator in their home for a number of reasons. It could be for peace of mind or, that themselves or a family member has previously suffered a cardiac arrest. A defibrillator that is easy to carry is useful so that it can be easily transported such as if you want to take it in the car with you. Take a look at our home defibrillators here. 

The important thing to remember with defibrillators is that you have one. They provide peace of mind and really do make the difference between life and death. If a defibrillator is used within the first minute of someone falling ill, survival rates can be as high as 80%. Don’t forget, all defibrillators are designed for ease of use meaning anyone can use them, at any time.