Consumer electronics?

[surlyjoe]

I saw this at Amazon and almost fell over laughing.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...123333-5405428

. Since when did a cardio defibulator become a household gadget?

[GrahamGarside]

you mean you don't have one!

[surlyjoe]

sad part is I probbably should..

[Gizmo]

I just gotta ask:

If you think you need one of those around the house, wouldn't the person in question be better served to be in a decent nursing home?

Oh wait. That's a contradiction in terms, isn't it?

[fantomfreq]

The fact of the matter is that they have gotten so cheap and user friendly in the past several years that if you need one, they are easy to get and affordable. I know I wouldn't want to live in a nursing home.

[GrahamGarside]

couldnt you be charges with assault for using one of these without the proper qualifications though? it's a bit like trachioctimydoodahIdontknowhowthehellitsspeltemy what ever, you know the thing where you slice open someones throat and stick a biro in, you shouldnt do that life or death situation or not because you can be prosecuted

[fantomfreq]

These things are a long way from the ones that doctors use. They're mostly automatic. You attach electrodes according to pictures on the unit itself, and then the machine automatically monitors the person's heart. When the pulse becomes very weak or nonexistant, the machine will send a shock through their body. It will do this a few times.

The point is, there's safeguards built in to make sure nobody gets shocked unless they need it. Also, I don't know if they have similar laws in the UK but here in America we have laws known as "good samaritan" laws. These laws state that if you're really trying to help someone, then you cannot be prosecuted for it. For example, if you give an elderly lady CPR but break a few of her ribs in the process, you cannot be prosecuted because you were doing what was in her best interest.

[danrok]

I would suspect that these things are safer and more reliable than the manual technique.

[Phat Pat]

Originally Posted by gizmo

I just gotta ask:

If you think you need one of those around the house, wouldn't the person in question be better served to be in a decent nursing home?

Oh wait. That's a contradiction in terms, isn't it?

No, definitely not. Its a fire extinguisher type device, you may never use it, but you might. And if such a day comes you would be very thankful to have it around.

sorry, kinda touchy, my dad recently gave us (and himself) a scare, hes ok, but it makes you think.

Originally Posted by GrahamGarside

couldnt you be charges with assault for using one of these without the proper qualifications though? it's a bit like trachioctimydoodahIdontknowhowthehellitsspeltemy what ever, you know the thing where you slice open someones throat and stick a biro in, you shouldnt do that life or death situation or not because you can be prosecuted

most places (Im not a lawyer so I dont know for sure, but I think there are federal laws in both the USA and Canada) have a good samaritan law that protects those providing assistance to someone else in an emergency.

[GrahamGarside]

i still know your not suppose to do those trachiochtomy thingys, the first aid course I did told me so, not unless your in the jungle hunting an anoconda any how

[woodeirl]

.....ahh there a great thing in the morning after a couple of beers i usally give my self about 3 to 4 zaps a day to keep the doctors away!!!!

[Southern Man]

At $1500.00 you have to think is is... "Batteries Included" You think?

[Jazz]

Those machines are great. They are practically idiot proof. When I was in school for my emt training we had to use the semi auto ones. Very dangerous. They kinda made it safer for the medic but if you did'nt watch yourself zapppppp.....