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A new defibrillator was recently FDA-approved specifically to help save people who suffer cardiac arrest at home. The HeartStart Home Defibrillator, manufactured by Philips Medical Systems, is designed to be fast to learn and easy to operate.
"This is a potentially valuable approach to the prevention of death from sudden cardiac arrest," Dr. Gust Bardy, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, said in a press release. "Defibrillation within the first few minutes of collapse from the cardiac rhythm problem called ventricular fibrillation can be a very effective therapy with this often unpredictable and tragic event. Because the majority of cardiac arrests occur in the home, the development of an AED specifically for home use by nearby family members is a logical progression of the technology."
When turned on, the new device instructs the user to take off the victim's shirt and then gives step-by-step directions on how to place the chest electrodes correctly. The AED also provides coaching for adult and child CPR with voice instructions and timing cues for each breath, if needed.
The HeartStart Home Defibrillator can also be used on infants and children. When an infant-child cartridge is installed, the AED adjusts to deliver a lower energy appropriate for children under the age of eight or weighing less than 55 pounds. Philips' defibrillators are the only automated external defibrillators approved for use on children.
Defibrillators provide treatment for sudden cardiac arrest, which strikes immediately and often without warning, claiming over a quarter million lives each year.
"Many homeowners elect to buy and install security systems for their own homes for greater protection than local public safety can provide," said Dr. Vincent Mosesso, medical director of the National Center for Early Defibrillation. "The home AED is security for the heart--it allows family members to deliver lifesaving treatment before EMS teams can respond. Even a minute or two can mean the difference between life and death for the victim of sudden cardiac arrest."
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