With AEDs, Everyone Has the Power to Save a Life

It  kills someone every two minutes in the United States. It strikes in offices, schools, shopping malls, hotels, airports, grocery stores; on the street, the basketball court, the track. It targets victims of all ages, races, sizes, and religions. It can be the stuff of nightmares – a loved one, friend, or perfect stranger clutches his or her chest and collapses without a pulse while others watch, horrified but helpless. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) accounts for a staggering 325,000 deaths in the United States every year – more than 75% of cardiac-related deaths are attributed to sudden cardiac arrest – with the vast majority occurring outside of a hospital. Unfortunately, less than 32% of victims receive help from bystanders, and less than 8% survive.

When family members, friends, passersby, or spectators witness someone collapse, stricken by sudden cardiac arrest – often due to an unrecognized, underlying heart condition – their first reaction is to call for emergency help. However, the first few minutes after the event, when the victim is mere moments from irreversible damage or death, are the most crucial. For these victims, salvation most often comes in the form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, administered promptly and properly; rapid intervention can double or triple the chance of survival. When seconds can mean the difference between life and death, the availability of superior equipment can be literally lifesaving. Defibrillators have been responsible for the survival of teenaged athletes, professional runners, and children, men, and women of all ages, many of whom appeared perfectly healthy with no warning signs of what was to come.

Those stricken by sudden cardiac arrest and their potential rescuers can only benefit from the availability of low-cost, user-friendly defibrillation equipment; it is estimated that for every minute that elapses between the time of the arrest and the arrival of help, the chances of survival drops by ten percent. Nearly every state in the United States has passed laws mandating the presence of AEDs in public places including schools, sports arenas, malls, nursing homes, and other venues of predetermined size. Furthermore, all 50 states have passed Good Samaritan laws protecting those who attempt to resuscitate victims of sudden cardiac arrest, encouraging the average citizen – with or without emergency training – to step in and help when they witness a cardiac event.

Automated External Defibrillators

The average layperson is likely to be hesitant to use a defibrillator or perform CPR without training, due to fear of doing more harm than good; they worry about applying too much or too little pressure during compressions, administering a shock at the wrong time or in the wrong place, or otherwise worsening the situation. These fears are common and well-founded, spurring major medical manufacturers such as Zoll, HeartSine, and Cardiac Science to produce durable, portable, and reliable automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for every user, regardless of skill level. The affordable devices put lifesaving tools in the hands of the general population, increasing the survival rate for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. With access to simple, straightforward rescue equipment, the ordinary bystander possesses the power to save a life.

Zoll AEDs

Zoll’s automated external defibrillators are top-selling in many parts of the world, due to their simplicity for those with no emergency training; unskilled individuals are most commonly the first on scene of an incident. Their units provide high-quality defibrillation and clear, step-by-step graphic and audible prompts – including a metronome for CPR rate – for the timely performance of quality CPR and defibrillation when necessary, supporting untrained users in lifesaving maneuvers. Rescuers do not require any skills whatsoever to use the defibrillator, as the “smart” electrodes monitor cardiac activity and advise users of when to administer a shock and/or CPR. The CPR assistance tool is invaluable in the event of sudden cardiac arrest, as effective CPR is the primary means of successful resuscitation, and the clear, calm, and easy-to-follow instructions help bolster rescuers’ confidence and encourage proper form.

The AEDs’ CPR assistance feature, Real CPR Help®, utilizes sensors in the included one-piece electrodes to critique compression efforts and encourage effective attempts. The devices display compression depth, compression rate, and lapse time indicators to ensure that CPR is consistent, properly timed, and deep enough; it also combines all three compression functions into the CPR Index™, one visual indicator that allows users to view the general quality of their CPR efforts and adjust as necessary. Audio prompting urges users to “push harder” and “continue CPR,” and exhorts “good compressions” when CPR is performed correctly.

AED Plus

The best-selling AED Plus®, the world’s only Full-Rescue AED, supports inexperienced rescuers with its myriad features, including intelligent pediatric mode, Chain of Survival depictions, and a full set of all accessories needed for a rescue. 

AED Pro

The AED Pro®, like the AED Plus®, aids untrained rescuers in their lifesaving efforts with several additional features and vital signs monitoring capabilities that convert it to a full manual defibrillator for rescuers skilled in basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS). When in manual mode, it features See-Thru CPR®, a feature that filters out compression “noise” and allows advanced rescuers to see cardiac rhythm without pausing resuscitation efforts.  Its highly impact-resistant design, advanced storage and transfer capacity, and lightweight portability make it the preferred choice for military and field use.

HeartSine & Cardiac Science AEDs

HeartSine Samaritan PAD

The HeartSine samaritan® PAD is one of the most popular portable defibrillators on the market, due to its lightweight, portable size, clear audible resuscitation prompts, high quality defibrillation, and budget-friendly price. It also carries the highest water and dust ingress in the industry and has been drop-tested for durability. 

Powerheart AED G3

Cardiac Science's Powerheart AED G3 devices are compact, customizable defibrillators for use by both skilled and unskilled rescuers. They perform daily, weekly, and monthly self-checks to ensure that they are Rescue Ready and include automatic, semi-automatic, and automatic/manual models for laymen and emergency responders alike. Many models are AHA 2005 compliant.

Hospital and EMS Defibrillators

While it most commonly strikes at home or in public places, sudden cardiac arrest  happens in ambulances and hospitals too. Though skilled responders are readily available in these situations, high-quality defibrillators and advanced capabilities increase the likelihood of survival. Zoll’s M Series and R Series hospital defibrillators are smart, simple devices that may be configured with several parameters to meet any facility’s needs as well as dual automated/manual defibrillation capabilities. Both series feature Real CPR Help® and See-Thru CPR® for optimal resuscitation assistance.

M Series

M Series defibrillators are the smallest, lightest, and brightest in their class and are available in configurations to meet the needs of users skilled in BLS, ALS, and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) with features such as advisory mode and dual manual/automated capabilities. Each features a built-in multifunction thermal printer and is customizable with parameters including pulse oximetry, non-invasive blood pressure, pacing, 12-lead ECG, and capnography. 

R Series

The R Series, a newer, improved version of the M Series, features neonatal, pediatric, and adult capabilities, the option of adding OneStep™ pacing in addition to the M Series’ parameters, an optional wireless expansion pack, and the distinction of being the world’s first Code-Ready® defibrillator. It may be ordered to suit both ALS and BLS responders, with some models featuring the ability to switch from an AED to a full manual defibrillator with the push of a button.

What kind of defibrillator do I need?

The American Heart Association states that 20,000 lives can be saved yearly by widespread accessibility to AEDs. Because sudden cardiac arrest does not discriminate and most often attacks without warning, one of those lives could be yours or a loved one’s. At Tiger Medical Supplies, we understand the importance of AED ownership; we are also familiar with the wide, often confusing array of options. We offer a full line of the highest quality AEDs and manual defibrillators, as well as the appropriate accessories for operation and training, to suit the needs, capabilities, and budget of every layman, emergency responder, and medical professional. Our knowledgeable, friendly sales staff and comprehensive product pages will assist you in navigating the purchase process and finding the right model and configuration you need, at the price you want.