Just be careful, an AED does not cure all. It is only used for one waveform, a venticular fibrallation. (SP?) it will not
work for an MI or other types of heart attack. Best is to keep really up to date with your CPR skills, and there was new data released this last week. You have to keep o2 getting to the brain, this requires compressions and oxygen.
How much o2 is only determined by a pulse oximeter. You have to keep over 93% to be in the green zone.
I think you should speak to a
medical professional, and ask them if they had "x" amount of
money to spend on EMT
equipment, what would they buy? Maybe a paramedic is an even better person to ask.
IF you DO get an AED, remember that the
battery is being used all the time while in
storage, its doing self tests. We have placed a film of plastic between the
battery and the contacts, and a bright label to pull it out before use. Of course it starts a self test program immediately, but, if you press the big red button it bypasses and is ready for deployment. This way the
batteries last 10x longer, and they are hugely expensive if you don't make your own.