What is an AED?

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable defibrillator that checks a person’s heart rhythm and delivers a shock if the AED determines the patient has a shockable rhythm such as irregular heart rhythms, or ventricular fibrillation. If a person suddenly collapses and stops breathing, they may be suffering from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and SCA is serious. It means a person’s heart has stopped pumping blood and they need help fast in order to restore their heart to a normal rhythm or SCA can be fatal.

The most important element in the treatment and aid of SCA is not only CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), but to provide a rapid electrical shock to their heart called defibrillation. An AED device helps ordinary people to provide defibrillation quickly to help save lives. HeartStart AEDs are the only AED (automated external defibrillators) approved by the FDA for sale over the counter without a prescription.

How do I use an AED?

Philips portable defibrillators come equipped with integrated SMART Pads. Just place the SMART Pads on the person’s bare skin and the pads will provide feedback to the AED so calm, step-by-step voice instructions can guide you through the entire process of using the AED until emergency services can arrive. Replacement AED supplies, such as electrode pads, batteries and accessories are available online if you use your AED in an emergency.

Pull the handle to activate the AED

HeartStart AEDs arrive with the Adult SMART pads cartridge and battery already installed and is positioned inside the carry case. After you set up the device, simply pull the handle to activate your defibrillator.

It guides you through every step

Once you pull the green handle to activate the AED, voice instructions will guide you through the entire process – from placing the electrode pads on the patient to performing CPR and delivering electrical therapy.

AED delivers fast shock therapy

This medical device features patented Quick Shock, which typically administers a shock just eight seconds after CPR, making the OnSite among the fastest in its class at delivery treatment after CPR. Studies show that minimizing time to shock after CPR may improve survival.^1-4

Why are AEDs so important?

Help me find the right AED

Answer a few questions and we’ll recommend the best AED for you.

Tell us about yourself

I am a professionally trained responder (such as firefighter, police officer or part of an Emergency Response Team

I work for a school

I work for the government (city, state, federal, military)

I am a business owner (such as restaurant, gym, office, construction)

I work in a doctor’s office

I am an individual interested for personal use or to give as a gift.

Where will you use this AED?

In the nurse’s office by medical professional

At athletic field or outdoor environment

In the gymnasium, indoor environment

Where will you use this AED?

In an outdoor
environment, vehicle, boat or airplane

In an indoor
environment, office, etc.

Where will you use this AED?

In an outdoor
environment

In an indoor
environment

Where will you use this AED?

Used by medical
staff

For public access

Based on your profession, we recommend the HeartStart FRx AED for trained or minimally trained users, including school nurses, medical professionals, EMS, Fire and police. The FRx is designed to withstand rough environments, including outdoors, at construction sites, on airplanes or helicopters, in vehicles or boats.

Features include:

Built for rugged environments, including outdoors
Complete CPR assistance for BLS-trained rescuers
Easily used on both adults and infants/ children

Learn more

Based on your response, we recommend the HeartStart OnSite AED for offices, public areas, libraries, gyms, office and public areas where users may not be medically trained.

Features include:

Ready to use the moment it arrives
Guides you through every step

Easy as 1-2-3

Learn more

Based on your response, we recommend the HeartStart Home AED for personal use at home.

Features:

Easy as 1-2-3

Guides you through every step

Designed for use on adults and infants and children

Learn more

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Our lineup

HeartStart OnSite

Designed for the ordinary person in the extraordinary moment, Philips HeartStart OnSite AED is ready to act and virtually ready to go. It allows anyone with little or no training to treat the most common cause of suspected sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) by delivering a shock quickly and effectively, wherever SCA happens. The OnSite automated external defibrillator provides practically real-time guidance through step-by-step voice commands from pad placement to performing CPR. When every minute counts, Philips HeartStart OnSite defibrillator is the partner by your side. Side by side. Step by step.

M5066A

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HeartStart FRx

The Philips HeartStart FRx defibrillator features intuitive, step-by-step voice instructions, including CPR guidance, and an audible metronome to help guide basic life support (BLS) responders while treating a suspected sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) Pre-connected SMART Pads II can be used for both adults and children. Rugged, lightweight and reliable, it can withstand rough handling and extreme temperatures. When every minute counts, Philips HeartStart FRx is the partner by your side. Side by side. Step by step.

861304

View product
HeartStart Home

Like other pieces of essential safety equipment, the Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator was designed to be safe, reliable and easy to use. The Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator is the first and only defibrillator available without a prescription. Designed with you in mind, HeartStart Home is easy to set up and includes automatic CPR guidance features like voice prompts and CPR guidance to help guide you step-by-step through the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest.

M5068A

View product

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References

^1. Eftestol, T., Sunde, K., & Steen, P. A. (2002). Effects of interrupting precordial compressions on the calculated probability of defibrillation success during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Circulation, 105(19), 2270-2273. Retrived from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12010909 on August 20, 2018.

^2. Yu, T., Weil, M. H., Tang, W., Sun, S., Klouche, K., Povoas, H., & Bisera, J. (2002). Adverse outcomes of interrupted precordial compression during automated defibrillation. Circulation, 106(3), 368-372.

^3. Snyder, D., & Morgan, C. (2004). Wide variation in cardiopulmonary resuscitation interruption intervals among commercially available automated external defibrillators may affect survival despite high defibrillation efficacy. Critical care medicine, 32(9 Suppl), S421-S424. Retrieved from from https://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/2004/09001/Wide_variation_in_cardiopulmonary_resuscitation.16.aspx

^4. Edelson, D. P., Abella, B. S., Kramer-Johansen, J., Wik, L., Myklebust, H., Barry, A. M., . . . Becker, L. B. (2006). Effects of compression depth and pre-shock pauses predict defibrillation failure during cardiac arrest. Resuscitation, 71(2), 137-145. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2006.04.008

Learn about AEDs What is an AED?

What is an AED?

How do I use an AED?

Pull the handle to activate the AED

It guides you through every step

AED delivers fast shock therapy

Why are AEDs so important?

Help me find the right AED

Answer a few questions and we’ll recommend the best AED for you.

Our lineup

HeartStart OnSite

HeartStart FRx

HeartStart Home

More about Philips AEDs

Learn about AEDs
What is an AED?