Philips Medical Systems
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11 Introduction to the Hear tStartDescription
The HeartStart Defibrillator M5066A is part of the Philips HeartStart HS1 family
of defibrillators. Small, lightweight, and battery powered, it is designed for simple
and reliable operation.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
The HeartStart is used to tre at the most common causes of su dden cardiac arrest
(SCA), including ventricular fibrillation (VF). SC A is a condition that occurs when
the heart unexpectedly stops pumping. SCA can occur to anyone – infant, child,
adult, male or female – anywhere, at any time. Many victims of SCA do not have
warning signs or symptoms.
VF is a chaotic quivering of the heart muscle that prevents it from pumping blood.
The only effective treatment for VF is defibrilla tion. The HeartStart treats VF by
sending a shock across the heart, so it can start beating regularly again. Unless th is
is successful within the first few minutes after the h eart stops beating, the victim is
not likely to survive.
Indications for Use
The HeartStart should be us ed to treat someone you think may be a v ictim of
SCA. A person in SCA:
• does not respond when shaken, and
• is not breathing normally.
If in doubt, apply the pads. Follow the voice instructions for ea ch step in using the
defibrillator.