Philips Medical Systems
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1 Introduction to the HeartStar t FRx Description
The Philips HeartStart FRx Defibrillator 861304 (“F Rx”) is an
automated external defibrillator (AED). Small, lightweight, rugged,
and battery powered, it is designed for simple and reliable operation
by minimally trained users. The FRx is highly conf igurable for local
protocol considerations.*
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
The FRx is used to treat ventricular fibrillation (VF), the most
common cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA is a c ondition
that occurs when the heart unexpected ly stops pumping. SCA can
occur to anyone – young or old, male or female – anywhere, at any
time. Many victims of SCA do not have warning signs or symptoms.
Some people may have a higher risk for SCA than o thers. Causes
vary and may be different for infants and children than for adults.
VF is a chaotic quivering of the heart muscle that prevents it from
pumping blood. The only effective treatment for VF is
defibrillation.The FRx treats VF by sending a shock across the heart,
so it can start beating regularly again. Unless this is successful within
the first few minutes after the heart stops beating, the victim is not
likely to survive.
* Configurability includes timing of the “Call Emergency Medical Serv ices”
reminder, CPR protocol variations, and other features. See Appendix F,
“Configuration,” for details.