Device life of the party

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The life of the party this festive season may not be the office clown, but high tech equipment.

An Auckland Hospital staff member is hiring out battery-powered defibrillators which could be the difference between life and death if someone collapses at a Christmas party.

The device costs $50 a night to hire. It is around the size of an iPad and has electric wires that attach to the chest and zap the heart back into action if someone has a heart attack.

No training is needed to use the machine as it has a voice prompter which delivers step-by-step instructions.

The automated external defibrillator (AEDs) retails at $3000.

Jonathon Webber, who is a resuscitation trainer at the hospital as well as a volunteer surf lifesaver at Piha on Auckland's west coast, has two machines to hire. He started the venture after being approached by people wanting to borrow AEDs for events and weekends away.

"It's like having a fire extinguisher," said Webber. "You hope you won't have to use it, but there's no doubt it is a lifesaving device."

St John Ambulance medical director Tony Smith said one in 3500 people has a heart attack each year.