According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), cardiac arrest accounts for 300,000 to 400,000 deaths in the United States each year, most of which involve non-hospitalized people. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are lightweight, portable devices used to restore regular heart rhythm and improve survival chances when patients experience cardiac arrest at locations other than a hospital, such as workplaces, shopping malls and schools.
Cardiac Arrest
The American Heart Association defines cardiac arrest as "the sudden, abrupt loss of heart function." Abnormal heart rhythms stop the heart. According to OSHA, ventricular fibrillation, a chaotic heart rhythm, is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death.
AED Function
AEDs correct chaotic heart rhythms by delivering an electric shock to the heart. Through adhesive electrodes placed on the victim's chest, a microprocessor within the AED evaluates the patient's heart rhythm and determines if defibrillation is necessary. When warranted, the AED prompts the operator to administer the electric shock to restore normal rhythm.
Defibrillator Statistics
Statistics on external defibrillators show that the faster a defibrillator machine is used on victims of cardiac arrest, the better the chances of survival. The survival rate dwindles by 10 percent each minute after cardiac arrest begins when the patient does not receive defibrillation. However, cardiac arrest patients have a survival rate up to 49 percent when a defibrillator is used within the first five to seven minutes after the attack.
Why we chose Philips AEDs?
Freedom Sales and Supply, LLC wanted to offer an AED that our customers could rely on today and into the future. The Philips AED line is simply the best the AED market has to offer.
Quality Track Record: Philips has placed more AEDs in the United States and around the word than all other AED manufacturers combined! No other external defibrillation therapy has been supported by more published clinical data.
Smart Pads follow the user’s actions and can sense when they are removed from the packing and placed on the chest. Philips AEDs keep pace with the rescuer’s actions to provide prompts in real-time.
Quick Shock Technology: The chances of successful defibrillation are increased when the delay between CPR compressions and a shock is reduced. With Quick Shock technology, Philips AEDs deliver a shock in less than 10 seconds. Other AEDs may take more than 30 from ‘clear’ to ‘shock.’ There is no protocol that states to delay defibrillation for 30 seconds after CPR is stopped!
Pad Integrity Philips AEDs run over 80 self-tests every day, including a pad integrity check for presence and function. You can respond confidently knowing that the AED has checked the pads to ensure they are present and working properly.
