Both the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross offer CPR and AED courses. The American Heart Association's "Heartsaver AED program" includes training in both CPR and AED use and can be completed in three to four hours. To find out more about Heartsaver AED, call 1-877-AHA-4CPR (1-877-242-4277). To find out more about AEDs at work, go to http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3185.pdf

How to find the best defibrillator for you
Shopping online is by far the easiest and best way to find the right defibrillator for you. You can compare multiple brands and models side by side, find the best price for the defibrillator you want, and can have the defibrillator shipped right to your door. Because it is a medical device, you will need authorization from a doctor to purchase a defibrillator; some sites that sell defibrillators will even obtain this prescription for you.

There are some common elements of all new defibrillators that you should be aware of. All automated external defibrillators on the market:

-are FDA approved
-save lives equally
-use visual and voice prompts
-use biphasic (two phase) shock
-come with a 5 year warranty

There are also some differences to consider when shopping for the right defibrillator for you:

Display/functionality- how easy the unit is to work, how large the display is, how detailed the voice prompting is, etc.

Battery costs- to compare battery costs, simply find out the battery life and multiply times the cost of the replacement battery to determine your battery costs.

Internal testing- all AEDs perform self-tests and will alert you if there is a problem. Make sure the electrodes are tested as well.

Accessories- different AEDs brands and models come with various accessories, such as carrying cases, spare electrodes, and so on.

Pediatric use- if you have a potential need to use a defibrillator on younger patients, make sure to find out if the AED you choose is safe for smaller persons.