Q: What is an AED?
A: An AED is also known as an Automated External Defibrillator. This device can help a person who has cardiac arrest (stoppage of the heart) by sending an electronic shock to the victims heart and thereby hopefully getting the heart to start beating on its own again. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is not a heart attack. SCA kills over 350,00 people in the United States every year. Proper & early use of CPR and an AED can save additional countless thousands of lives every year.

Q: Can I learn how to use an AED?
A: An AED is actually VERY easy to learn how to use. The classes taught by HealthSav which feature extensive hands on practice with AED training units are the BLS Healthcare Provider (BLSHCP) and the Heartsaver AED classes. The training units do everything that a real AED does except it will not deliver a real shock thereby making its use in the class setting very safe.

Q: Who can own an AED?
A: AED's are available to anyone. In New York State the units are required to be issued with a prescription from a medical director and then registered with the NYS Health Department. HealthSav takes care of all this legwork work to make sure you have the AED properly registered and then will oversee that the AED is maintained properly at your site.

Q: Do I need to know CPR if I want to get an AED?
A: Yes. An AED is an adjunct of CPR. The AED is the device that can actually get a stopped heart started. If an AED is not available rather soon after the incident then CPR will not be enough to save the person suffering the sudden cardiac arrest. However CPR is crucial to sudden cardiac arrest victim until the AED can be applied and deliver its shock.

Q: How expensive are AED's
A: AED devices have come down in price as the technology becomes more standard. HealthSav will work with you to determine the best type of unit for your needs. HealthSav is a member of the Initial Life Support Foundation and many AED's that we get clients get special pricing through the foundation's AED voucher system. Also, in New York State one can file to receive a $500.00 tax rebate per unit on all AED's purchased in the tax year.

Q: My company already has an AED so what more do we actually need?
A: First off, congratulations. Having an AED available on site is a huge step any business can take in providing a safe work environment for their employees. But having an AED is not the final step. Proper registration, proper overview of an internal AED plan is of utmost necessity. It would not be a good thing if the AED is needed, let's say, 5 years from now and the unit is pulled from its case with either a dead battery or pads that have expired, or BOTH!!
HealthSav will ensure the units at your site are properly maintained, checked and properly available if and when they are needed to save a life.