The Surprising Reason for the Increase in Defibrillator Sales
Mark Glazer
Defibrillator sales are going up every year because they are more readily available. Defibrillators have become the first line of defense for heart attacks (cardiac arrests). Using defibrillators can improve the survival rate during these events if they're used in the first several minutes. It's stats like these that have made many businesses, schools and individuals decide that defibrillators were a good purchase.
Estimates suggest that 200,000 to 350,000 people die each year in the United States from sudden cardiac arrest. Research also suggests that up to 95 percent of individuals who experience cardiac arrest will die from it, often because a defibrillator was not available. When defibrillators are used within the first five minutes, survival rates increase.
It's not surprising that people are beginning to reconsider purchasing defibrillators. In the past, only medical professionals were able to get them, but that's no longer true. You can now get a defibrillator without a prescription.
Although a portable, automated defibrillator is still somewhat costly for the average person, they are recommended for anyone with risk factors for this condition. In addition, many public areas are including access to defibrillators because they help save lives and newer models can be used by almost anyone.
More than just easier, the defibrillators on the market now are often automated. When you connected them to the patient, they monitor the person's heart rate and they'll treat them with the appropriate stimulus only when necessary. They also often come with audio and visual instructions that can walk you through an emergency situation. Children as young as eight years old have been able to use these devices.
Defibrillator sales have also increased because of the availability of implanted devices. Internal defibrillators work similarly to external units but are implanted in the chest and constantly monitor the heart for any problems. Recent technology has made internal defibrillators less invasive to install and many also function as pacemakers.
As long as sudden cardiac arrest continues to be a health concern, defibrillator sales are likely to continue to rise. Lower prices and greater availability is also likely to fuel consumer purchases. The market for accessories, like cabinets, special pads, carrying cases, and so on, is also likely to continue.
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