After receiving clearance from the FDA, Philips has recently launched their latest product to battle sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) victims…the Philips Heartstart FR3. Professional responders who purchase this automated external defibrillator (AED) will benefit from the smallest and lightest professional-grade AED in the market. Utilizing a heavy-duty protective case, the FR3 was designed to simplify saving lives. As with any AED, before purchasing the FR3, one must receive a prescription and purchase medical direction. Most distributors sell both of these add-ons with the unit.
In the United States alone, SCA claims over 300,00 lives per year making it one of the top causes of death in the country. The heart rhythm most often associated with SCA is called ventricular fibrillation and is treated with defibrillation along with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, practicing CPR alone without defibrillation cannot restore a normal cardiac rhythm. In fact, few attempts to resuscitate an SCA victim are successful after 10 minutes with no defibrillation.
