Why Should You Have
an AED at Home?

All FDA-approved AED units work in fundamentally the same way. They are powered on, electrode pads are applied to the patient’s chest, the AED reads the victim’s heart rhythm, and, if a defibrillation shock is needed, they charge to deliver a shock. So, in a sense, any AED model can be used for home use.

In our opinion, there are certain characteristics that make some AEDs better for home use than others. If you’re thinking about buying an AED for your household, make sure that it’s as portable as possible. The Avive Connect AED™ is the smallest and lightest FDA-approved AED available, making it a great option for at-home use since it is small, lightweight, and easy to carry. Read more about finding the best AED for home.

Time is of the essence in cases of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. While it may seem that being physically close to emergency resources will decrease the time-to-defibrillation, the reality is that 911 calls commonly go through a complicated process to get from you to the eventual first responders.

In many areas, fire and medical calls are transferred to a secondary call center, which slows down response times. In other areas, fire departments aren’t dispatched to medical calls like a Sudden Cardiac Arrest at home.

More importantly, your “home AED” doesn’t have to stay at home! You can take your AED with you so that you have the tools required to help others in need whether at a picnic in the park, youth baseball game, or crowded mall parking lot.

The unfortunate answer is that it depends.

Some insurance programs, like flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) allow you to use your set-aside insurance dollars toward the purchase of an AED. So, if it’s year-end, and you’re about to lose your unspent FSA dollars, why not apply them toward the purchase of an AED to protect your family and neighbors?

Traditional insurance programs, like HMOs and PPOs, do not typically cover the cost of an AED unless a patient has been diagnosed by a physician with a condition requiring an AED.

Federal programs, like Medicare and Medicaid, require a similar diagnosis, performed in-person by a treating physician.

But, in all cases, don’t merely take our word for it. It’s best to consult with your insurance provider and physician to learn about your coverage options.

If it's difficult for you to find reimbursement options, you may certainly wish to consider Avive's LIFESaver Plan™ where for the low cost of $349/year you can have your own Avive Connect AED. 

Prices vary from brand to brand, but a good home AED unit should cost less than $1500 upfront.

The Avive Connect AED™ is an affordable option and can be owned for as little as $349/year with our LIFESaver Plan™. Of course, you can always purchase the Avive AED outright, too, which would mean a one-time purchase of $1,395. 

Make sure to look into the upfront purchase price of the device as well as the ongoing costs for consumable items that expire, like batteries and electrode pads, over a set period of time, like 8 or 10 years. Together, these costs will be the total cost of ownership, one of the most important numbers you can calculate! Avive's power-packed rechargeable battery is just one way we're helping you keep your ownership costs down as there will be no AED batteries to buy, replace, or install--ever! 

The right AED for your household should have an easy conversion to the pediatric mode when the victim is under 8 years of age. The faster this conversion, the better! Avoid AEDs that require you to replace the adult electrode pads and insert new pediatric pads; this effort will cost valuable time during an emergency response.

At Avive, we've made responding to children and adults easy with our universal pads. Simply press the Child button on the top of the device to transition between adult and pediatric therapy modes, saving time during an emergency and money during ownership. 

Pediatric mode attenuates the energy level, reducing the number of joules to 50 from 150. The electrode pad placement for children and infants may vary as well, so check out our guide for more information and consult your AED owner’s manual.

Every AED unit performs different types of self-checks, at different intervals, and then displays the results in different ways. Make sure to consult your AED owner’s manual for the specifics on how your AED unit should be maintained.

We recommend you buy an AED that performs daily self-checks. 

We also recommend AED units that wirelessly send their self-test data to you, so that you’re informed when there is a problem with the device as quickly as possible, like with the Avive Connect AED. Avive's REALConnect Platform, powered by Bluetooth, WiFi, Cellular, and GPS communication, provides daily AED self-maintenance notifications, AED location tracking, Lost Mode, and more, so if your device is being improperly maintained, you will know. 

When placing your AED at home, make sure it is accessible by everyone who might be a potential responder. The AED should be easily visible and not obstructed by anything that might make it hard to find or access. Don’t put it in a cupboard or behind any locked doors.

Lastly, sometimes placing the AED near an obvious landmark can help during an emergency. In other words, if someone shouts “where is the AED?!”, you can quickly and clearly say “next to the thermostat” or “on the utility counter.” Here’s more on where to put your personal AED.

AEDs are only useful if they’re accessible during an emergency. If you’re at a youth hockey game and your AED is at home (not in the glove compartment of your car), it’s not going to do any good.

Conversely, if you’re leaving a birthday party at your house to run to the store for more chips, then the AED might be better at home.

Use common sense. Where is a cardiac arrest incident most likely to occur? That’s where the AED should be. Or, to make life easier, buy two AEDs. Then you won’t be forced to pick and choose where to take it!