That scenario now may be played out at local businesses. In March, Washington Township-based ComForcare Senior Services began selling Automatic External Defibrillators, portable heart machines that stimulate a heartbeat if a person suffers a heart attack.

These portable defibrillators can be instantly applied to a heart attack victim right at work, instead of waiting for paramedics to arrive. Every minute that passes with the patient's heart stopped increases the potential damage to them.
"The only way to get it back is to shock it back," said ComForcare President Ken Olsen.

Of course, a co-worker will have to apply the shock. ComForcare teaches employees how to use the four-pound device, which Olsen said is easy to learn.
Olsen said he wants to sell the machines to senior living centers, churches, colleges and any business with more than 100 employees and expects to sell more than 100 AEDs this year.

He's currently negotiating with a supermarket chain to buy the first AEDs. He said the AEDs eventually will become commonplace in the work environment.
"These will be like fire extinguishers and smoke alarms in five to 10 years," he said.

The AEDs sell for $1,600.

ComForcare has 20 employees locally and provides home health care services for senior citizens, including in-house bathing, meals and transportation.

Source:comforcare