Having an AED nearby when you need it

Police and ambulance crews carry AEDs, and they're commonly available in many public places, including malls, office buildings, sports arenas, gyms and airplanes. However, many cardiac arrests occur at home, so having a home AED can save precious minutes in reviving a person with ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.

Proponents of home AEDs say putting them where they're needed most will save many lives. But critics argue there's no reliable evidence that home defibrillators save more lives.