Philips HeartStart OnSite AED, Automated External Defibrillator, Purchase an AED

Purchasing an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can be a difficult decision with numerous manufacturers to choose from and numerous different features. Therefore, understanding the differences and capabilities of each AED is key to selecting the proper AED for your organization.

The Philips HeartStart OnSite is the first automated external defibrillator (AED) to be cleared by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to be sold without a Physician’s Prescription. This clearance was received due to its ease of use which makes it applicable for business or home placement.

In addition to being easy to use, Philips has also made the Heartstart OnSite very affordable to increase wide spread access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

The Philips HeartStart OnSite has a long-life battery which will last 4 year s installed and 5 years on the shelf. The adult pads are pre-connected and ready for use at any time. The OnSite AED offers an infant/child pad that is to be used on any child 8 years or younger and 55lbs or less. The infant/child pads reduce the amount of energy delivered from the AED.

Furthermore, the Philips HeartStart OnSite has low-energy biphasic therapy which delivers an energy at a protocol of 150 Joules, 150 Joules, 150 Joules. In multiple peer-reviewed studies, this low-energy biphasic therapy has proven to be effective in treating Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) while minimizing post resuscitation heart damage.

In addition, the Philips Heartstart OnSite has countless features which make it one of the best AEDS on the market. However, below are a few key ones:

• “Pull” Tab – The “Pull” tab can be pulled to activate the AED. It is the only AED on the market that has the “Pull” tab feature. Many AED require the responder to push an on/off button to activate the AED.
• CPR Coaching – The OnSite has CPR Coaching. The CPR Coaching feature assists the responder on the frequency and the depth of the compressions.
• “I” Button – The “I” Button serves two purposes on the OnSite AED. The first purpose is to inform the owner of the AED that there is an issue with the AED. If your Philips OnSite AED is beeping, you can push the “I” button, and the AED will inform you as to what the issue is with the AED. The second purpose is to inform the EMS responders of the events of the emergency. The AED will give a recount of the event details that have occurred.
• Self Tests – The Onsite does daily, weekly and monthly self-tests to ensure its functionality. If it passes each, a “green light flashing” will appear signifying that it is “ready for use”.

Finally, due to its ease of use & economical price point, the Philips Heartstart Onsite has become the most widely distributed AED in the world and has proven to be ideal for deployment in the following organizations:

• Schools
• Churches
• Small Businesses
• Gyms

Contact HeartSafe America today to find out more about the Philips HeartStart OnSite AED and how to implement an AED Program. HeartSafe America's goal is to educate the public about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and how AEDs increase the survival rate.

Defibtech LifeLine AED; Automated External Defibrillator, SCA, Purchasing AED, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, CPR

Purchasing an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can be a difficult decision with numerous manufacturers to choose from and numerous different features. Therefore, understanding the differences and capabilities of each AED is key to selecting the proper AED for your organization. Over the course of six weeks, we will review the top six AEDs on the market today.

One of the most user friendly devices on the market today is Defibtech Lifeline AED. With its bright yellow color, built in handle, large buttons and clear voice prompts, the Lifeline has been designed to be clearly visible, easy to transport and very easy to use.

The Defibtech LifeLine has text, lights, and voice prompts to assist the responder through the rescue. This feature makes it easy for any responder, trained or not, to feel confident during a rescue that he or she will be able to help save a life.

The Defibtech LifeLine has pre-connected adult pads. The pads sit in a pocket in the back of the AED so that they are ready for use at any time. The Defibtech LifeLine offers a 5 year battery or a 7 year battery for its AED.

The newest feature on the Defibtech LifeLine is the CPR Coaching Metronome. The metronome feature helps the responder know the rhythm of the CPR compressions and how often to give them.

The Defibtech LifeLine has an IP rating of 55. This IP rating is one of the highest IP ratings for an AED. The IP ratings vary from AED to AED. When an AED receives its IP rating it means that, that particular AED has been put through the solid (dust) and water particle test.

The Defibtech LifeLine performs self tests daily, weekly, and monthly to ensure the AED is fully functional. The status indicator light will flash to let the responder know that this AED is rescue ready at any time.

Some of the major business sectors that have equipped themselves with the Defibtech LifeLine include the following:

• School Districts
• Construction Companies
• Government Entities
• Churches

HeartSafe America assists organizations all over the United States with implementing their AED Programs. One of the organizations that HeartSafe America has worked with is Pearland ISD, a school district in Texas. Pearland ISD owns the Defibtech LifeLine AEDs, and this school district has recently had to use the Defibtech LifeLine AED to receive a student who was at practice for his sport and collapsed. The student went into Sudden Cardiac Arrest and because Pearland ISD had the Defibtech LifeLine on site, this student had a fighting chance. This student survived Sudden Cardiac Arrest due to the fact that there was an AED present.

To view more about this story, CLICK HERE.

Contact HeartSafe America today to find out more about the Defibtech LifeLine AED and how to implement your AED Program. HeartSafe America’s goal is to educate the public about sudden cardiac arrest and how AEDs increase the survival rate.

AEDs in the workplace; automated external defibrillators, sudden cardiac arrest, SCA, CPR Training, OSHA

Many organizations struggle with the thought of purchasing an automated external defibrillator (AED) for the workplace due to the fact that many organizations are unaware of what the AED’s purpose is and how it can save lives. Understanding the benefit of an AED in the workplace could save a life.

Is there a benefit of having AEDs in the work place?

The answer to this question is absolutely!

In our continuous effort to educate the public about the benefits of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), HeartSafe recently blogged about the American Heart Association’s three minute from “drop to shock” rule. This clearly illustrates the benefit of having AEDs in the work place for several reasons.

It is a common misconception that local EMS are able to respond to the scene of an accident immediately. It is important to realize that the national average response time for local EMS ranges anywhere from 6 to 12 minutes. Being aware of this information is key to survival. With every minute that passes, a victim in sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) loses a 7%-10% chance of survival if not defibrillated. Unfortunately, a victim is facing only a 40% chance of survival if EMS arrives at the six-minute mark.

Envision a normal office setting and your colleague or business partner is sitting in a cubicle next to you and all of the sudden he starts having chest pains and loss of breath. He then falls out of his chair on to the floor unconscious. It appears he has had a heart attack which has lead to cardiac arrest. You immediately call 911 and the clock starts ticking. You quickly retrieve the AED onsite, begin CPR, then apply the pads of the AED on the chest and follow the guidance the AED verbally gives you to begin treatment. The device begins analyzation and tells you to push the shock button to deliver the first shock. Your colleague comes to and appears to wake up. You continue to care for him until EMS has arrived, but he is now conscious and can answer you when you speak to him. EMS finally arrives after 8 minutes and begins to care for him.

This example provides clarity on why having AED’s in the work place is a necessity! An article by the Department of Labor Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) states that in 1999 – 2000 815 out of 6339 fatalities (13%) in the work place were due to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The conclusions of this article determined that “The earlier defibrillation is administered, the better chance at survival for the victim.” The proper placement and implementation of AEDs and CPR/AED Heartsaver training in the work environment helps “bridge” the gap between the time a victim has a cardiac event, to the time when EMS arrives on the scene to take over.

CLICK HERE to view the OSHA article.

Understanding what Sudden Cardiac Arrest is and accepting that it can affect anyone, at any age, at any given moment emphasizes the importance of AEDs in the work place. After all, the life you save may be great friend or colleague.

Contact HeartSafe America today to find out more about the benefits of AEDs in the work place. HeartSafe America's goal is to educate the public about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and how AEDs can increase the survival rate.

CPR & AED Awareness Week; AED, Automated External Defibrillators, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, SCA, CPR, CPR Training

CPR & AED Awareness Week has been created by the American Heart Association to promote the importance of being trained in CPR and how automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can help to increase the survival rate from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).

CPR & AED Awareness week is from June 1 through June 7, 2010. The goal of the American Heart Association (AHA) is to inform the public about Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and how CPR can help to save a life. Along with CPR, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are use to revive patients suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).

HeartSafe America is an official AHA training site for CPR and AED training courses. HeartSafe America’s goal is to educate the public about Sudden Cardiac Arrest and how CPR and AEDs can help to increase the survival rate.

Have you considered CPR Training? Interested in an AED for your organization?

Contact HeartSafe America today to find out more about CPR Training and how your organization can implement an AED Program.

HeartSafe America; AED Program, AED Implementation, Automated External Defibrillator, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, SCA, AED Laws, CPR Training

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program is key to reducing the number of deaths that occur from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Our 7 step process based on the American Heart Association’s recommendations will assist any organization in implementing an AED program.

As a result of the American Heart Association, state legislation and notable deaths such as Tim Russert (Moderator of NBC’s “Meet The Press”), Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) awareness is at an all-time high. Therefore, many churches, schools, and corporations are proactively protecting their members from this deadly disease with Automated External Defibrillators (AED). While buying an AED does not guarantee every victim will be saved, it will substantially increase survival rates from 5% to 65-75%. However, in order to achieve maximum results, a comprehensive program must be implemented. Below is a list of steps to do so:

1. Select a Program Coordinator:
   Accountability is the key to any project. Therefore, a single individual must be selected to implement the program and maintain it after initial deployment is completed.
2. Get Decision Makers Support:
   In any organization, it all starts at the top. Therefore, in order for the program to gain notoriety and thrive financially, support from executive leadership is needed. Since most Decision Makers are subjected to large amounts of stress and long hours, SCA should be a concern for them and gaining support should be easy once the facts are presented.
3. Review State & Federal Laws:
   Laws exist to protect people. Therefore, to implement an effective program, the Coordinator must familiarize himself or herself with the Laws that have been put in place to protect those who purchase AEDs and use them.
4. Obtain Medical Oversight:
   As lay people, we may not understand the full scope of implementing an AED Program. Therefore, employing a Medical Professional to oversee program development, deployment and maintenance will have a profound impact on its success. Think of it as a “Technical Support Plan” for your computer. **In some states, Medical Direction and Oversight is a requirement**
5. AED Selection:
   When selecting an AED, research and compare the features of different devices to find the one that best fits your organizational needs. If possible, work with a multi-line AED Distributor who can help you understand the key differences between the devices and consult on the selection.
6. AED Placement:
   If I had to rank the importance of each step, AED Placement would be at the very top. Since AED and AED Cabinets are not the most attractive pieces of décor, many organizations try to hide them or unknowingly place them in inappropriate spots. However, in order to achieve the American Heart Association’s goal of three minutes from drop to “shock”, AEDs must be placed in high traffic, centrally located areas near other emergency medical equipment. In following this recommendation, the device will be very visible and easily accessible if a Sudden Cardiac Arrest occurs.
7. Training:
   All AEDs on the market today have clear prompts, which guide the responder through the save. However, as the old saying goes: “practice makes perfect”. Therefore, it is highly recommend that your entire organization attend a CPR/AED training course administered by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross or equivalent training organization. If training everyone is cost prohibitive, select an appropriate number of individuals to be designated as an Emergency Response Team and have them trained.

Once these steps have been completed, the real work begins. During the initial deployment, enthusiasm and interest will be extremely high. However, after training is completed and the AEDs are placed in their cabinets, most will forget that they exist. Therefore, the Program Coordinator will be responsible for keeping the program compliant and visible. Below is a list of ongoing AED Program responsibilities:

• Monthly Inspections: Every month, the AED(s) must be inspected to ensure functionality. This inspection consists of checking the status indicator and the pad expiration dates (Adult & Pediatric). If the status indicator is “flashing” and the pads are within the expiration, the device is “Rescue Ready”.
• CPR/AED Training: Depending on the training curriculum which your organization has chosen, training renewals will occur every year or every other year. Therefore, the Program Coordinator must track the renewals and schedule re-certifications.
• Ongoing Awareness: As new members join the organization and old members forget, periodic AED reminders should be published. These reminders should include AED location, list of trained responders and protocol for responding.

Deciding to purchase an AED is a great decision and an excellent benefit for your members and/or employees but this decision cannot be validated without proper deployment. Therefore, it is essential that you follow these steps to ensure that if the time arises, your AED Program is prepared to save a life!

Contact HeartSafe America to find out more about implementing your AED program for your organization. HeartSafe America offers six of the top AED manufacturers. Our goal is to help educate the public about Sudden Cardiac Arrest and how AEDs can help decrease the number of deaths from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

HeartSafe America; CPR Training, CPR, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, AHA

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is one of the most basic forms of training an individual can receive to assist a victim during an emergency. Understanding how CPR can be effective during an emergency is important. Training in CPR can make a big difference in the survival rate of a victim.

Below are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about CPR.

What is CPR?

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is the process of using chest compressions along with breaths to restore a victim’s heartbeat and breathing.CPR is performed when a victim has stopped breathing and he or she has no pulse.CPR provides a continuous flow of oxygen and blood throughout the body.Our brains can only survive 5 minutes without oxygen without doing permanent damage.CPR can double the survival rate of a victim that has no pulse and has stopped breathing.

What are the current CPR guidelines?

Currently, the American Heart Association recommends that a responder use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation along with chest compressions to perform proper CPR.The AHA guidelines recommend two breaths to 30 chest compressions. Of course, the AHA guidelines are updated every 5 years to increase the rate of survival from using CPR.

If you are a responder and you are unable or unwilling to provide breaths to the victim, then the AHA recommends doing a chest compressions only method.The chest compressions only method still gives the victim a fighting chance at survival.

What is the purpose of CPR Training?

CPR is a simple procedure that can be performed by anyone, but with proper training the responder has a better chance of helping the victim to survive. Being prepared for any situation whether it is an emergency or non-emergency is important.

CPR Training is one of the most basic methods of rescue that any individual could be prepared for. Anyone can be a victim of drowning, sudden cardiac arrest, or other medical condition which can cause the heart to stop.With CPR Training, a responder will learn how to perform effective chest compressions to keep blood and oxygen flowing to the brain and to give breaths that keep oxygen in the lungs.

Do you or your organization need CPR Training?

HeartSafe America offers a variety of life saving courses to equip individuals with the knowledge of how to aid a victim during an emergency.HeartSafe America offers the following life saving courses:

• Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider
• Heartsaver CPR Training & AED Use
• Heartsaver CPR Training with Infant
• Heartsaver CPR Training & AED Use with Infant
• Heartsaver First Aid Only
• Heartsaver First Aid & CPR Training
• Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid with Infant
• Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid without Infant
• Blood Borne Pathogens Training

HeartSafe America is an official American Heart Association Training Site that trains individuals as well as large organizations in life saving courses.

Contact HeartSafe America today to get more information about the life saving courses offered and to register yourself or your organization for the courses.