The Latest Home Appliance

by T. Fogarty
Many people buy smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and security systems for their homes. Now the question is: Should a heart defibrillator be included in a home safety kit?
The issue is being hotly debated in the medical community since the Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of the Philips Onsite defibrillator without a prescription. The portable device shocks the heart back into the proper beat after a sudden cardiac arrest.
But an AED is expensive, costing from $1000-$2,500, and typically isn't covered by insurance. Although the FDA decision allowed AEDs to be sold without a prescription, there's little guidance on who should get one. Right now, people with known risk factors for heart attack, people over 50 and those living i View the rest of this article