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It is a piece of equipment seen in emergency rooms and medical drama. And now you could have one in your living room. Dr. Kim looks at new portable defibrillators.
Every year close to a quarter of a million Americans collapse and die of a heart attack without any warning. Their hearts simply stop beating.
A defibrillator could save many of those people by delivering a jolt of electricity to the heart, jump starting it back to life. In recent years, small, portable defibrillators have been installed in public places, offices, even airports. Now they are available for the home.
U.C. San Francisco's Doctor Harrold Borrero trains physicians in cpr. He says around 70 percent of heart attacks happen in the home, so it makes sense to have a portable defibrillator in the home, too.
"It may save a life, that's for sure. If we can somehow introduce these to the high risk patients at home, and train the family, I think we may save some lives."
The devices are easy to use. In fact, they talk you through the process, telling you when to place the pads on the patient, then alalyzing if the patient needs a shock of electricity, and delivering it.
It's also very safe, with built in safety devices.
Dr. Borrero explains, "It has a microprocessor in the unit that can identify a shockable rhythm. If there is not a shockable rhythm it's not going to charge up, in fact."
The portable defibrillator will only be available with a doctor's prescription. It is expected to go on sale within the next few months.
The at-home defibrillators will cost around $2,300. It's not clear yet if insurance companies will cover the cost.
