Frequently Asked Questions

We know that you may have some questions about AEDs, and we hope that you find this list of frequently asked questions and answers helpful.

What is an AED and when is it needed?

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is used to deliver an electrical shock to the heart (defibrillation) of a victim of the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s electrical impulses suddenly become chaotic, causing the heart to abruptly stop pumping blood effectively – known as ventricular fibrillation. The victim becomes unresponsive, has no detectable pulse and stops breathing. The only definitive treatment to restore an effective heart rhythm of the most common cause of SCA is defibrillation.

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Does sudden cardiac arrest really happen in sports and fitness venues?
Yes – sudden cardiac arrest can strike virtually anyone—man or woman, young or old – anywhere, anytime and often without warning. In fact, a person is at a higher risk during or shortly after exercise.¹

Many factors can increase the risk of SCA or limit the timely delivery of potentially lifesaving defibrillation therapy:

• An aging population in golf courses and fitness settings
• Higher-than-advisable exertion levels
• Locations that may be difficult for emergency responders to reach due to the need to negotiate traffic, crowds or distances

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If sudden cardiac arrest does occur in a health club, isn’t it the responsibility of emergency medical services ?

Helping to save lives is a shared responsibility. A health club’s emergency response program should complement, not replace, the existing 9-1-1 structure. Working in partnership with EMS, health and fitness clubs can help keep a victim alive for EMS personnel to treat when they arrive. Training staff members in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and in the use of AEDs, can minimize time-to-defibrillation. For the best chance of survival, a shock to the heart should be delivered within the first 5 minutes. The likelihood of successful resuscitation decreases by approximately 10 percent with every minute that passes. After 10 minutes without defibrillation, few attempts at resuscitation are successful. Sadly, the average response time for emergency medical services in a typical community is nine minutes. AEDs can be strategically placed within a facility, similar to the convenience of fire extinguishers, so that responders have immediate access to this potentially lifesaving equipment.

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Why should a sports and fitness organizations purchase defibrillators?

Studies demonstrate dramatic increases in survival as a result of the broad deployment of defibrillators. The American Heart Association estimates that 40,000 more lives could be saved annually in the U.S. alone if defibrillators were more widely available and could reach victims more quickly.&179; Additionally several jurisdictions have passed laws requiring AEDs in health and fitness centers. Considering that people spend the majority of their time at work, school or within their communities, the broad availability of defibrillators within these locations offers tremendous potential to save lives. Early defibrillation programs established in health clubs, shopping malls, airports, businesses, casinos, and across entire towns and cities have already been successful in saving lives from sudden cardiac arrest. According to a 2003 survey of workplaces by the American College of Environmental and Occupational Medicine (ACOEM), 34% of those who have implemented an AED program have used their AED at least once in order to help save a life.

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How safe are AEDs?
AEDs are designed to deliver a shock only to someone who is suffering from the most common cause of cardiac arrest. When used properly and with appropriate precautions, AEDs are very simple to operate and pose no risk to either the rescuer or the victim.

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Who in our facility would use the AED?

Philips HeartStart Defibrillators require minimal training. Coaches, trainers, security guards, and office workers can safely use Philips HeartStart Defibrillators. Philips provides comprehensive training solutions through a network of qualified training organizations to assist with preparing employees to use AEDs.

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Is maintenance time-consuming? 
Philips HeartStart Defibrillators have long-life batteries and perform comprehensive daily, weekly and monthly self-tests to help ensure readiness. Even pads are tested for readiness. Visual and audible status indicators allow responders to immediately see whether the device has passed its last self test and is ready for use.

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Are AEDs expensive?
Training and equipping responders with AEDs represents an efficient use of existing resources and is an effective means of enhancing in-house emergency medical services. Through technological advances in defibrillation design, circuitry and battery technology, purchasing an AED for your corporation is more affordable. Philips HeartStart Defibrillators with supplies can now be purchased for as little as $1,495 per unit.

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Is there an increased risk of liability for using an AED?
All health clubs should evaluate the relative risks and benefits when considering the implementation of any program that affects employee welfare. According to the American Heart Association, to date, no known judgments have been rendered against the operator of an AED for negligent or improper use of AEDs. According to an article on AEDs and legal liability published in Air & Space Lawyer (a publication of the American Bar Association), “liability claims associated with the negligent operation of AEDs are mitigated by the difficulty in establishing that the operator proximately caused harm to the victim…The AED operator is attempting to resuscitate an individual who, absent the AED, will likely remain dead.”

By contrast, recent news indicates that health clubs may face liability for failing to have an AED available to treat a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. For example, in June 1996, a Florida jury found Busch Gardens negligent for not properly training its employees to provide emergency care and for failing to have essential medical equipment, including a defibrillator, on the premises. The plaintiff was awarded $500,000 in damages for the death of her teenage daughter at the amusement park.

The Cardiac Arrest Survival Act passed by Congress in 2000 provides a model that states could adopt to encourage widespread use of AEDs and other lifesaving devices and provide immunity for those who give emergency care. And Good Samaritan laws enacted by nearly every state enable a range of non-traditional emergency responders to use AEDs. In further support of these legislative efforts, Philips offers customers an indemnification program to protect Philips AED users.

And, of course, if local laws require defibrillators in health clubs, the legal implications of not having them in places where physical exertion is the rule should be seriously considered.

In summary, the benefits of AEDs, the relative manageable cost of implementation and the lack of other effective treatment alternatives can present a compelling argument that health clubs and other organizations might have a duty of care toward their employees, customers, etc. who may suffer sudden cardiac arrest. Failure to purchase and use AEDs could conceivably subject these health clubs to an increasing liability risk in this rapidly evolving legal arena.

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Are Philips HeartStart AEDs Optimized for AHA Guidelines?

At Philips, we are proud of the extent to which our AEDs are optimized for the AHA/ERC recommendations. We believe we are uniquely faithful to the intent of Guidelines 2005.

To start, Philips AEDs have a single shock protocol, followed by 2-minute CPR intervals. But Philips recognized early the importance of minimizing interruption to chest compressions, and delivering a shock as quickly as possible after CPR. As a result, Philips HeartStart AEDs feature Quick Shock, the ability to deliver a shock in under 8 seconds (typical) after the end of CPR. Other defibrillators take 2 or 3 times that amount of time to deliver a shock after compressions. Guidelines 2005 recognize the importance of minimizing the time to shock after CPR to improve shock success.

Philips also gives responders on-demand CPR coaching to encourage the performing of CPR, and help responders recall their training, helping to improve CPR quality.

In addition, the Philips HeartStart FR2+ is the only device with SMART CPR, the ability to assess a shockable rhythm and automatically determine if the patient is best served with an immediate shock (in the case of a rhythm typical of the first few minutes of cardiac arrest), or CPR first, followed by a shock (which may better serve patients who have been in cardiac arrest longer then 4-5 minutes).

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Is financing available?
Philips realizes that health clubs may need support when making the initial financial commitment to purchase AEDs. We are pleased to provide a broad range of financing options to purchase AEDs. For more information contact us at 1-800-453-6860.

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How can I buy a Philips HeartStart Defibrillator?
Click here to purchase online or contact us at 1-800-934-7372.  You may need a prescription from a doctor to purchase a HeartStart FR2+, a HeartStart FRx and other accessories to complete your order.

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How do I learn more?
Call us at 1-800-934-7372 or click here.   Philips can schedule a visit, discuss implementing a health club AED program and demonstrate the latest in AED technology.

Outside the US

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References:

1. Albert CM, et al. "Triggering of Sudden Death from Cardiac Causes by Vigorous Exertion." N Eng J Med 1999;343:1355-1361

2.American Heart Association. 2004 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update. Dallas, Texas: American Heart Association, 2004.