I am proud of the long and successful history of our automated external defibrillators - also known as AEDs - which have helped save lives every day for the past two decades. Today, we reached the incredible milestone of having shipped a total of two million AEDs worldwide, and we will continue to innovate and provide our customers with reliable easy-to-use lifesaving technology.
Frans Van Houten
CEO, Philips
Almost 20 years of innovation
The two-millionth AED marks a major milestone in Philips’ almost 20 year legacy of cardiac resuscitation innovations to combat the potentially fatal effects of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The roots of this business go back more than 50 years. Introduced in 1996, the Forerunner AED was the first lightweight, durable, automated external defibrillator (AED) that was designed to be easy to use so trained emergency responders could help treat a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.
Millions of customers
Today Philips AEDs can be found on board major U.S. airlines, in Fortune 100 companies, and in the locker rooms of professional sports teams. We are dedicated to saving lives and proud that so many Philips AEDs are now available across the globe.
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7M lives claimed each year*
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of global mortality, accounting for almost 17 million deaths each year. It is estimated about 40-50% of all cardiovascular deaths are from sudden cardiac arrest.
Mehra, R., PhD. (2007). Global public health problem of sudden cardiac death. Journal of Electrocardiology, 40(6), S118-S122. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2007.06.023.
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HeartStart OnSite
1st AED available over-the-counter
Philips developed the first AED available for sale over-the-counter without a prescription, making the HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator more easily available for the implementation of early defibrillation programs in communities, schools and businesses.
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World Leader in AEDs
Philips is not only the world leader in AEDs, we’re also a leader in offering the solutions, tools, and expertise designed to help you establish and maintain a successful AED program. Our customers agree that with Philips, you’re well prepared, even across multiple sites with hundreds or thousands of employees.
As the leader in AEDs, Philips is committed to doing everything we can to help survive a sudden cardiac arrest, which is why we design our AEDs to be rugged, lightweight and durable, featuring clear audio instructions for both guided use and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) guidance in addition to intuitive icon-driven operation for ease of use.
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