Product Description

Please Note: There will be a $150 re-stocking fee on all returns of this item.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10752 in Health and Beauty
• Brand: Philips Medical Systems
• Model: M5068A
• Released on: 2004-10-14
• Dimensions: 9.00" h x 7.00" w x 11.00" l, 5.65 pounds

Features

• Reliably runs daily self-tests for readiness
• Cardiac arrest strikes, heartstart gives you the power to help save a life
• Safely delivers a shock only if needed
• This item is not for sale in Catalina Island

Amazon.com Product Description
The Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator. It's the latest in essential safety equipment. Fire extinguishers. Seat belts. Airbags. Home security systems. All essential safety equipment to protect yourself and your loved ones. You know they are there, silently standing by, just in case. They give you peace of mind so that you can focus on life's good things.

Step 1: After calling 911, grab HeartStart and place it next to the victim. Pull the green handle to begin the automated voice instructions.

Step 2: Remove clothing from the patient's torso. Cut clothing if needed. It is important that the patient's chest is bare.

Step 3: Peel open the protective cover and take out the white adhesive pads.

Step 4: Look closely at the pictures on the white adhesive pads. Follow the voice instructions to remove the pads from the yellow plastic liner and place exactly as shown in the pictures on the victim's chest.

Step 5: Once the pads are in place, HeartStart will automatically analyze the victim's heart rhythm and determine if a shock is needed. If a shock is required, press the flashing orange button to deliver the shock. Do not touch the patient until you are instructed that it is safe to do so.

Step 6: If needed, begin CPR. Press the flashing blue button for step-by-step CPR coaching. Continue to follow HeartStart's instructions until professional emergency responders arrive.

The Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator: It's the latest in essential safety equipment. See the Heartstart video. You can also take a product tour.

Be prepared for the unexpected.
When sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) strikes, the electrical system of the heart short circuits, causing the heart to quiver rather than pump in a normal rhythm. It typically results in the abnormal heart rhythm know as ventricular fibrillation (VF). It usually happens without warning and the majority of people have no previously recognized symptoms of heart disease. And it most often happens at home. For the best chance of survival from SCA caused by VF, a defibrillator should be used within 5 minutes. Yet, less than 1 in 20 people survive largely because a defibrillator does not arrive in time.

Just as seat belts or airbags do not save every life in a traffic accident, a defibrillator will not save every person who suffers a sudden cardiac arrest. Yet many lives could be saved if more people could be reached more quickly.

HeartStart was designed with you in mind.
That's why we created the HeartStart Home Defibrillator. This award-winning safety equipment has been designed so that virtually anyone can use it to help save the life of a person who suffers a sudden cardiac arrest.

Clear, calm voice instructions talk you through each step. HeartStart senses and adapts the instructions based on your actions. Using sophisticated technology, HeartStart quickly decides whether a shock is necessary. It is designed to only deliver a shock if needed. It will even coach you through the steps of CPR.

Like other essential safety equipment, you buy HeartStart hoping that you never have to use it. Yet in that moment you need it, HeartStart must be ready. It performs comprehensive daily self-tests. You can check its status at a glance. Virtually no maintenance is required.

Who should have a HeartStart?
Anyone who wants a safer home.

Consider the other essential safety equipment you own to protect your loved ones in case of an emergency. Fire extinguishers. Seat belts. Airbags. Now consider the likelihood of needing this equipment.

HeartStart Home Defibrillator Contents:

• Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator
• Red carry case with 911/EMS card
• Adult SMART Pads cartridge* (lasts 2 years)
• Battery (lasts 4 years)
• Training video
• Free discount coupons for CPR training at American Heart Association, American Red Cross or Medic First Aid
• 5-year warranty

*The Infant/Child pads cartridge is sold separately, and available by prescription only. Contact Philips at 1-866-333-4246 for more information or to order.

A Support Program Enrollment Card is also included. By enrolling in this free program, you will have access to a range of services, including:

• Important notifications about HeartStart
• Customer service*
• Periodic accessory reminders
• Post-use counseling*

*These services are available to all HeartStart owners.

Philips will send you a free Fast Response Kit (over $40 value) for enrolling in the Support Program.

Consider these things before your purchase:

• If you have questions or concerns about your health, or an existing medical condition, please talk with your doctor. A defibrillator does not take the place of seeking medical care.
• You cannot use the HeartStart to treat yourself.
• Users may need to perform CPR.
• Responding to cardiac arrest may require you to kneel.
• Voice instructions and enclosed materials are in English.
• HeartStart provides audible and visible indicators when maintenance is required.

Indications for Use: HeartStart is used to treat victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) who are not responsive and not breathing normally. If in doubt, apply the pads. The HeartStart treats the most common cause of SCA by delivering a shock to the heart. Use HeartStart and CPR, as needed, until emergency professionals arrive.

If you have concerns about your health or an existing medical condition, please talk to your doctor. A defibrillator is not a replacement for seeking medical care.

Manufacturer's Notice
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Customer Reviews

The Best Product of its Kind On the Market
I have taught CPR for almost 35 years and currently head up an American Heart Association Training Center. My instructors have had access to the top 4 AED trainers for over 5 years, but every one of them prefers to use the Philips Medical Heartstart. The other trainers gather dust. The Philips line of AEDs began as HeartStream in the late 1990s and were the first on the market with FDA-approved biphasic (2 directional) shocks, first to put AEDs on airplanes (American Airlines), first with FDA-approved Pediatric Pads,the first and currently only AED officially approved by the American Dental Association, and the first to be able to be purchased without a doctor's prescription. And considering that just a few years ago, AEDs cost almost $5000, the price makes it a steal! If you have a loved one in your home with a heart condition, this is the device for you! Be aware that no device guarantees success, and this machine will not help a heart attack, but it is the best chance for someone who experiences a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (complete heart stoppage). But if you buy it, please also take the time to get trained in its use by attending a HeartSaver AED training course - use of an AED is only 1 of 4 links in the AHA "Chain of Survival". You can find a course near you by going on the American Heart Association Webpage and locating a Training Center or Training Site near you, or call Philips Customer Service.

Worth Considering
I was employed by a major airline as a flight attendant. Our company was one of the first to madate AED's onboard. Because of my experience, I would recommend this product, but ONLY if you are in a risk group. The key to survivablility of a cardiac arrest is the response time to medical treatment.
An AED can close the gap between the incident and the arrival of professional medical assistance. Minutes of delay can mean death or brain damage.

This was my experience with an AED. A passenger suffered what appeared to be a cardiac arrest. There were no professional medical personnel onboard other than the well trained flight crew. For those that think that flight attendants are onboard to serve coctails and peanuts, think again.

The beauty of the AED is the precision method of monitoring the patient's vital signs, then advising proper steps. This helps to alleviate human error in administering first aid. After assessing the vital signs of the patient manually, we hooked him up to the AED. The system advised a shock. One was administered, which restored some heart rhythm. We were able to continue artificial respiration until the aircraft landed and medical personnel arrived. The passenger, while he did not regain consciousness onboard, did recover from his cardiac arrest.

The timeframe of surviving a cardiac arrest is measured in just a few minutes. The AED offers a helping hand in a crucial situation. If you are in a risk group, I'd recommend this product.

Impressive web support
Since my husband's family has a history of heart disease, I thought I would look into getting one of these. In researching the topic at the Consumer Reports website, I found that they reported that the resuscitation rate nationally is 2 to 5%. With a Home Defibrillator, the rate jumps to 40 to 50%.

In researching further, I found that the Phillips is the only Home Defibrillator available to buy without a prescription. The website for this product, www.heartstarthome.com, has a wealth of information. They offer assistance in finding out if insurance or Medicare will cover some of the cost of this product.

The American Heart Association states that 340,000 people in the U.S. die from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) each year. St. Jude Medical Center website (sjm.com) lists the risk factors for SCA, although SCA can occur without any risk factors:

Heart attack
Heart failure
Heart surgery
Coronary artery disease
Diabetes
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Cigarette smoking
Drug or alcohol abuse
Excess weight
High fat diet
Sedentary lifestyle
Stress
Certain medications (over-the-counter and prescriptions, including decongestants, diet and herbal supplements)
Family history of arrhythmia or sudden cardiac arrest
Congenital heart disorders (heart problems present at birth, usually involving the heart's chambers or valves)
Advancing age

I was very impressed with the amount of on-line support at www.heartstarthome.com, including a video and a demo. The demo shows exactly how the product works. It removed all doubt about whether I would be able to use this product. (Obviously, taking the American Heart Association class is highly advisable!) Thanks, Philips.