A defibrillator is a lifesaving piece of equipment to have in an emergency. If a person suffers a cardiac arrest, dialling 111 and performing CPR is not always enough to ensure that they will survive. Having an AED can increase the chance of survival by up to 40% when dealing with a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).

Each year over 1000 people in New Zealand will suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital. Many of these people have no warning since they show no prior symptoms and sadly fewer than 5% - 8% survive unless they get immediate treatment.

A defibrillator applies a short powerful electric shock to the heart allowing the heart to regain its natural rhythm and so enhances the victim’s chance of survival.

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Who can use a Defibrillator? Unlike defibrillators you may have seen in TV hospital dramas, AEDs do not need any medical training to operate.

The Heartstart AED uses simple audio prompts and pictures to reinforce every step in the resuscitation process so it is very safe to use as the electrodes are pre connected and the user simply follows the diagrams to apply them to a patient. In automatic mode all the user has to do is apply the electrodes and push a button.

St John offers two types of AEDs, made by Philips - the Heartstart AED (useful for most situations) and the Heartstart FRx, which is a more rugged model for use in wet and rough environments.

• you are responsible for ensuring a safe workplace
• you manage a shopping centre, tourism site, airport, sports centre, school, swimming pool, hospital, golf club, casino or other public place
• you are the first aider in a corporation or company with 50+ employees
• you look after or live with someone at high risk of a heart attack

• Fully portable light weight and versatile
• Fastest shock time of any product on the market
• Automatically voice prompts the user through the rescue procedure enabling efficient CPR to be administered
• Non-automated shock button minimizes inadvertent shock and ensures safety of others
• A guaranteed four-year maintenance free stand-by shelf life
• St John AED training course is recommended with all purchases

To find out more about AEDs, simply fill in the enquiry form, email us at enquiries@stjohn.org.nz or call us today on 0800 First Aid (0800 347 782) and we will arrange a demonstration.