Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator (AED)
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List Price: Our Price: $1,190.00 You Save: $805.00 (40%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy 3rd Party: from $1,125.00 (click here) Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator (AED)
Customer Review: It is not fair...
Summary: 5 Stars
It is irresponsible for people that do not know about this, to post in your site any opinion about something as important as sudden death. There are two people in your site (both of them signing as EMTs), saying that an AED is not so important to prevent sudden death.
I am a cardiologist and have been training people in Emergency Cardiac Care for years now and can say that they are absolutely wrong. I have no relation with any AED manufacturer and all of the FDA approved ones are good.
VF and VT are the cause of most sudden cardiac deaths. About 80% of people who dies suddenly have this arrythmia as the main cause. Just in the US, every year die more people of VF or VT than of car accidents, house fires, breast cancer and prostate cancer together.
This does not mean that to have a HeartStart AED in your home is as good as controling risk factors or going to a hospital if you have chest pain or shortness of breath. But, if someone in your home has a heart condition you can save them with an AED if you act in the first 8 minutes after cardiac arrest. The AED is a very effective device if used well. You should also learn CPR but, without defibrillation, the chance of surviving is a lot less.
In places like O'Hare Airport in Chicago they save about one person every two weeks using defibrillators. No one can affirm that all AEDs WILL save lives. But they could. It is not indicated for everyone but, for someone who can spend $1500 and have a heart condition that make them prone to sudden death, this device can be a very justificable spending.
Customer Review: Misleading reviews
Summary: 4 Stars
This is an easy-to-use, affordable model from a trusted name. Of the three models I've trained with, I much prefer this one. On the effectiveness of CPR/defibrillation: Many people have used this review forum as a means to "diss" CPR and defibrillators. None of these reviewers has offered any medical credentials to back up their statements. As a medical school student for whom AHA CPR/defibrillation training was required (and not someone who receives my medical education from TV drama), I have discussed the topic with many physicians, nurses, and basic scientists. I feel I must respond despite the fact that it's not entirely appropriate to do so in a review. While CPR alone does have a seemingly low overall success rate, it is quite successful in a variety of situations and should be employed as appropriate. CPR with defibrillation has a rather impressive success rate among adults who suffer SCA. It's probably true that not everyone needs to take a CPR/defibrillator course, but it's misleading and irresponsible to say that CPR and defibrillators are "useless." It's also misleading and irresponsible to say that only professionals can use defibrillators. The home use models are designed and FDA-approved to be safe in the hands of almost anyone, although if you expect that you will need to use one, you should probably take a course. What is dangerous in the hands of non-professionals is "a little information." Statistics require the knowledge and experience to interpret them, and not everything you read in a journal article is gospel.Customer Review: Advice
Summary: 4 Stars
I am an EMT with almost 15 years of CPR and CPR Instructor teaching experience with the American Red Cross. I am also on the advisory board for the AED Instructor Foundation [...], a national non-profit group that works with AED manufacturers to help get these devices where they otherwise have no access and to ensure proper training.
The AED is a great device. However, it is only as good as the training you need to receive as a user. CPR is what is going to keep oxygen in the person's system and circulating it while someone goes to get the AED or in a worst case scenario, the rhythm is a non-shockable one. CPR is not a difficult skill but it definitely is not one to learn while you are in the middle of an emergency situation, especially on a loved one.
Please, take CPR training from an accredited CPR course, one where you receive hands on training, not just a video driven course.
What a wonderful holiday gift! The gift of life! Many organization's such as the American Red Cross or American Heart Association (to name a few) offer gift certificates for classes and many organizations even have courses for children. Yes, children can learn this too! Many times it is a child who saves a life!
Even if you don't buy an AED it is important to know CPR because these devices can be found almost anywhere now, shopping malls, theaters, health clubs, and all federal government buildings, airports and all airplanes, and schools.
Give the gift of life...learn CPR!
Customer Review: I REALLY was wishing for one of these earlier today.
Summary: 5 Stars
At church today I came upon a man who had partially collapsed. Since I'm a physician, I stopped and offered aid. It turns out that he had a history of heart disease and was having some pretty concerning symptoms. To my dismay, we do not have an AED at our church (yet). We notified 911, and he was taken for medical care without any problems, but I was a bit worried there for a few minutes. While I'm trained in BLS, that is, at best, a temporizing measure. AEDs have a proven ability to diagnose and treat fatal heart rhythms. In my opinion, places of public gathering should consider purchasing one of these devices. I'll be working with our church to see if we can get one. I would have been a bit more relaxed waiting for EMS if I had had one of these today.
However, buying an AED is not a cure-all. I have been trained on these, and they are very simple to learn to use. However, I think it would be quite difficult for someone who had never used one use it correctly during the stress of a cardiac arrest. If you are considering buying an AED for home or public use, I strongly suggest reading the section on AEDs at the American Heart Association website. It discusses some of the important preparations to consider before the purchase of such a device.
So, while not for everyone, this is one of the few products available that can truly save lives. In the right situation, it is indispensable.
Customer Review: The Best Product of its Kind On the Market
Summary: 5 Stars
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.