AEDs Save Lives, But Not When They Don't Work

Every year, more than 300,000 Americans go into sudden cardiac arrest.  When this happens, the heart stops beating normally, and the blood stops circulating.  The patient may die if not treated immediately. 
 
Automated external defibrillators are medical devices that are used in emergency situations to save the lives of patients who have collapsed due to sudden cardiac arrest.  An AED works by diagnosing an abnormal heart rhythm and then delivering an electric shock to the heart in order to restore its normal rhythm. 
 
Because it can take some time for an emergency medical technician to respond to a cardiac emergency, many public places such as hotels, shopping malls, theme parks, and airports have AEDs installed for public use. 
 
When properly used AEDs save lives.  Each year, an average of 474 lives are saved because of the use of AEDS.  However, AEDs don’t always work. Between January 2005 and May 2010, the FDA received more than 23,000 reports of AED malfunctions; 721 people died. In the same time there were 68 recalls of AEDs.
 
You can learn more about the causes of AED malfunctions in our library article: “It Is Not Enough To Install AEDs: To Save Lives In Florida, AEDs Must Be Properly Maintained.”
 
If you or someone you love was injured or killed by a defective or improperly used AED, you have legal rights.  West Palm Beach AED injury attorney Craig Goldenfarb works to protect those rights and get victims of AED injury the compensation they deserve.  To learn more or to schedule a free legal consultation, contact The Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. at 800-GOLD-LAW.