Product category:
Personal protective equipment (PPE), devices
News Release from: Laerdal Medical | Subject: Heartstart FR2
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 03 February 2004
Ambulance Services chose Laerdal AEDs
Laerdal AEDs are top choice for Community First Responder Schemes.
There is compelling evidence that if a person collapses from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), early defibrillation significantly increases their chances of survival Defibrillation is most successful if performed within 2-3 minutes of arrest
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 4 Nov 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Heartstart FR2 saves lives
Laerdal Heartstart FR2 - The most effective automatic external defibrillator available today.
London Ambulance now uses Heartstart FR2
London Ambulance Service (LAS) uses Heartstart FR2 to help increase the number of lives saved.
Every second counts - one minute off a response time of just four minutes could mean the difference between life and death for the victim.
In response to this, Ambulance Services across the UK are introducing Community First Responder Schemes.
First Responders are members of the public who are trained to administer life-saving treatment including defibrillation before the arrival of the ambulance.
Further reading
Easy-to-use AEDs for fire fighters
Laerdal can provide complete AED solution for compliance with Bain Report.
Man's life saved at Sunderland leisure centre.
Thanks to the participation of Crowtree Leisure Centre in the HeartStart Sunderland Lifesavers Scheme, lifeguards and nurse were able to save the life of a 67 year-old man.
Donation of defibrillators at Heathrow Airport
London Ambulance Service to benefit from donation of defibrillators for its groundbreaking Cycle Response Unit at Heathrow Airport.
Under such Schemes, volunteers are trained to administer CPR, defibrillation and other basic but potentially life saving treatment.
When trained and kitted out with the appropriate medical equipment, Community First Responders are alerted by the ambulance service to attend patients with emergencies such as sudden chest pain, suspected SCA, breathing difficulties and unconsciousness.
Oxfordshire Ambulance Service's Community First Responder Scheme Manager, Richard Tracey explained, "Although the Schemes are set up in areas where the response times are met by the ambulances, if the Community First Responder arrives at the scene before the ambulance, this is deemed a success".
"The Community First Responder Schemes complement rather than replace the services of paramedics, and reports to date have already proved them to be highly successful".
Around 50per cent of the UK's Ambulance Services are equipped with Laerdal automatic external defibrillators (AEDs).
Due to their ease of use, Laerdal AEDs are also the defibrillators of choice for many Community First Responder Schemes across the UK.
Richard Tracey explains the group decision for Community First Responders in and around Oxford to use the Laerdal "Heartstart First Aid Defibrillator".
He says, "A few months ago, we put together a list of criteria that should be met by an AED in order for it to be used easily and effectively by a Community First Responder".
"Clarity of instructions, ease of operation and robustness were evaluated in a number of AEDs".
"Whilst not too high up on the list of criteria, the cost of the AED was also considered, as community fund-raising is required to facilitate the provision of each defibrillator".
"The Laerdal Heartstart First Aid Defibrillator met all the criteria".
"The audible and visual instructions are clear and easy to understand, the machine is incredibly robust and it is very simple to operate".
"We were convinced that the Laerdal Heartstart First Aid Defibrillator was the right choice for Community First Responders and found that when evaluated by other members of the Scheme, overridingly, it was also the preferred choice of all our members".
Richard is delighted with the immediate success of the scheme.
He explains, "We have already had community saves with Laerdal AEDs".
"One recent example is a 56 year old lorry driver from a village in Oxfordshire, who called an ambulance as he was experiencing severe chest pain".
"The ambulance service alerted a Community Responder, who was able to be at the patient's side within 2 minutes".
"The man went into cardiac arrest after the arrival of the responder, and was successfully defibrillated".
"Without early defibrillation, the patient may have died".
"Early defibrillation in addition to further treatment from the ambulance crew and medical teams in hospital has enabled the man to be recently discharged from hospital".
"Another example was a 27 year old asthma sufferer, who arrested in front of a Community Responder due to the stress and exhaustion caused by her respiratory difficulties".
"Thanks to prompt defibrillation, the patient made a quick and complete recovery".
Laerdal's FR2 defibrillators are used by Hampshire Ambulance Services's frontline crews and Community First Responders.
Keith Boyes, the Services' Community First Responder Scheme manager explains, "To provide continuity of product and product training, we prefer our Community First Responders to use the same type of defibrillator as our paramedics".
"FR2s are very robust, and the clarity of the instructions gives the administrator the confidence to use the equipment quickly and effectively".
"We have around 30 schemes up and running throughout Hampshire, and have already had four significant saves by Community First Responders using FR2s." Laerdal Heartstart First Aid and FR2 defibrillators have been successfully used by first aiders on aeroplanes, in shopping centres, in hotels, at home, at public swimming pools and in other public places.
Laerdal's challenge is to help save lives.
• Laerdal Medical: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
