Annually HeartInfo Commentary Readily available defibrillators can save lives. However, there is concern about the public's ability to use the devices safely and effectively. Over 350,000 people in the U.S. die each year from cardiac arrest. Cardiologists believe over half of these people could be saved if defibrillators were widely available.
Defibrillators deliver an electric shock that restarts the heart in cardiac arrest victims.
Unfortunately, the window of opportunity for saving the victim is around five to six minutes from the time of cardiac arrest. Congested traffic in big cities and long distances in more rural areas make reaching the victim during this crucial time period difficult. They believe defibrillators should be available in many places such as factories, health clubs, apartment buildings and private homes and to be used by a variety of people who are not health care professionals. Approximately half of all people who have heart disease die without warning. Many of these people never knew they had heart disease.