Philips HeartStart FRx AED Overview
• Durable (one of the toughest AEDs on the market with an eight-year warranty).
• Easy for non-professionals to use (can also be used for training with special AED pads).
• Smooth hand-off when EMS arrives.
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Rugged and Durable
If you are looking for a durable, long-lasting AED, you have found a contender. The Philips HeartStart FRx AED is intended for use outside of your average office climate. Whether you are in law enforcement, work with student-athletes or are involved with some other outside program, the HeartStart FRx is up to the task. With an IP55 rating for dust and water, the HeartStart FRx is proven to withstand the elements.
The IP55 (Ingress Protection) rating means that it scores a 5 out of 6 for sealing dust out of the device (the first digit) and a 5 out of 8 for sealing water out of the device (the second digit), which is currently the highest rating you can find for a public access AED. Its standby/operating temperatures can range from 32 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit with the ability to withstand a 500 lb. crush test-which all goes to show this is not your ordinary AED defibrillator.
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Low Maintenance
After receiving your new HeartStart FRx, you only need to turn the unit on. This will start the self-test and confirm that the device is ready to use. From here, very little is needed to maintain your FRx AED. Even with the HeartStart FRx regularly performing daily self-tests, the Philips FRx battery will last up to 4 years! This is typical as long as your FRx AED is stored and maintained according to your owner’s manual directions.
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Easy for Non-Professionals to Use
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a serious matter requiring immediate action. When a trained professional is not readily available, the first responder must step up and act in a seemingly chaotic moment. The Philips HeartStart FRx is designed with this in mind. The HeartStart FRx will immediately start telling you, as a responder, exactly what to do. After applying the Philips AED pads, the FRx will know when a shock is needed and will prompt you to push the orange shock button when it’s time.
Voice commands will also guide you step-by-step through the procedures and even rephrase instructions if additional help is needed. If the environment is too noisy to hear, there are flashing icons and a reference guide that will provide supplemental assistance. You won’t have to worry about forgetting any CPR training you might have had, because the Philips HeartStart FRx will continue to assist you, and professionally guide you through the sequence of correct chest compressions and rescue breaths.
If a small child or infant needs to be saved, you can simply insert the optional infant/child key and the Philips HeartStart FRx will change its instructions to be appropriate for a victim under 55 lbs. and/or 8 years of age. The infant/child key will also reduce the defibrillation energy from the standard adult dose of 150 Joules (the unit of measurement for electrical energy used in AEDs) down to 50 Joules.
Once Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrives, their team will most likely want to hook up their own AED defibrillator. The HeartStart FRx is setup to make the hand-off to EMS a smooth process. The Philips AED pads may be compatible with the portable defibrillator provided by EMS, which is a huge timesaving factor in the hand-off to EMS, as they will not need to detach your AED pads in order to apply their own AED pads. In this case, EMS is able to start assisting the victim quicker. If the EMS wants to hear a summary of the last-use data stored in your Philips HeartStart FRx, hold down the i-button until the FRx AED beeps.