AMSTERDAM, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal
Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) today announced the
20th anniversary and 1.5 millionth sale of its
HeartStart line of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), the
first AED designed for the layperson. With these milestones, the
company is launching a campaign aimed at raising awareness around
the prevalence of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), with the goal of
educating people about using AEDs and how they can lead the way to
save a life. Despite the widespread availability of AEDs today,
people are not always aware of AEDs, don't know how easy they are
to use, and may still hesitate to intervene when someone is
experiencing a SCA. Philips aims to showcase the ease of use and
importance of AEDs, and empower laypeople to take action to help
save a life.
Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death and a major
health problem in Europe and the
U.S. Approximately 420,000 people experience EMS-assessed
out-of-hospital non-traumatic SCA each year in the U.S. and 275,000
in Europe [1,2]. When bystanders
intervene by giving CPR and using AEDs, however, 4 out of 10
victims survive [3]. CPR may extend a victim's life temporarily,
but it alone cannot save the majority of SCA victims. Through this
campaign, Philips is engaging with medical experts and survivors of
cardiac arrest to move past one of the biggest barriers today:
giving the average person the confidence to use an AED in an
emergency.
"Today's AEDs couldn't be easier to use – you open the box and
the device talks you through the steps – yet, despite this, people
are still hesitant to intervene when they witness someone
experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest episode," said Dr.
Joe Frassica, chief medical and
innovation officer, Philips and chief science officer, Philips
Research North America. "We need to ensure that people know what
AEDs are, how to use them and understand that they can, in fact, be
used by anyone. Those moments between someone's heart stopping and
when the emergency responders get to the scene are crucial. For
every additional person equipped with the knowledge and confidence
to intervene with an AED, there is potential for another life
saved."
The reality about sudden cardiac arrest is it can happen to
anyone, anywhere at any time [4]. While SCA is most common in
people over 40 years old, 9,500 cases of SCA happen to children
under the age of 18 [5]. Many bystanders mistakenly believe it is
best to wait for professional help to arrive to the scene of a SCA.
For the best chance of survival, an AED should be used within three
to five minutes after collapse [6]. For every
minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation, an SCA victim's
chance of survival decreases by 7% to 10% [7].
After 10 minutes, very few SCA victims survive [8].
However, being able to provide immediate treatment
is crucial, as only 10.6 percent of SCA victims survive [9]. On
average, EMS teams in the U.S. take 6 to 12 minutes to arrive on
the scene of a SCA [10]. With bystander intervention and treatment
with an AED, the survival percentage triples to 31.4 percent
[11].
"Over eight years ago, I was sitting at lunch discussing senior
prom plans with friends when I suddenly went unconscious, fell out
of my seat and began to convulse," said Lindsay Hayden, a survivor of cardiac arrest. "I
was having a sudden cardiac arrest. I was just 17 at the time. A
classmate and close friend had died of cardiac arrest just a year
and a half prior to my episode, and his parents placed an AED in my
school in his memory. That same AED helped save my life. Without
the help of a classmate and the use of the AED, I believe I
wouldn't be here today. Sudden cardiac arrest doesn't discriminate
and it really can happen to anyone. I was lucky that my classmate
recognized that I was having a cardiac arrest, was trained in CPR,
and knew what an AED was. But luck shouldn't be a vital component
to survival."
Philips launched its first public access AED, Forerunner by
Heartstream, in 1996 and set the pace in the industry with
milestones and innovation breakthroughs, such as its pediatric
capability, throughout its history. Philips created AEDs for the
layperson to use when faced with an extraordinary moment giving an
untrained responder the confidence to act quickly, decisively and
lead the way to save a life.
Since this innovation and product name change to HeartStart,
Philips' AEDs have helped to save many lives. In 2015, HeartStart
defibrillators were present on board 80 percent of major U.S.
airlines, dozens of regional airlines and many of the largest
international carriers. HeartStart can also be found in many of the
busiest U.S. airports, one of the largest bus and coach producers
in Europe, 43 professional sports
team and 85 percent of Fortune 500 companies. Today, HeartStart
automated defibrillators are located in major public places, making
AEDs more accessible so that those in need can receive the help
they need when they need it.
To learn more about our survivors and Philips HeartStart
products, please visit:
http://www.usa.philips.com/healthcare/articles/aed-solutions. For
more information on Philips global efforts in supporting World
Heart Day on Sept. 29, visit
www.myheartisunique.com.
References
|
[1]
|
Incidence of
EMS-treated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the United States,
Thomas D. Rea; Mickey S. Eisenberg; Greg Sinibaldi; Roger D. White,
Resuscitation, September 16, 2016
|
[2]
|
Incidence of
EMS-treated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Europe, Incidence of
EMS-treated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the United States,
Thomas D. Rea; Mickey S. Eisenberg; Christie Atwood; Johan Herlitz,
Resuscitation, September 16, 2016
|
[3]
|
About SCA, Mary M.
Newman, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, September 16,
2016
|
[4]
|
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Is Not on Consumers' Radar, According to a New Study by the Sudden
Cardiac Arrest Foundation, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation,
September 16, 2016
|
[5]
|
About SCA, Mary M.
Newman, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, September 16,
2016
|
[6]
|
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
FAQs, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, September 16,
2016
|
[7]
|
CPR Facts and Stats,
American Heart Association, September 16, 2016
|
[8]
|
About AEDs, Sudden
Cardiac Arrest Association, September 16, 2016
|
[9]
|
Heart Disease and
Stroke Statistics—2015 Update, Dariush Mozaffarian; et. al,
American Heart Association, September 16, 2016
|
[10]
|
Heart Disease and
Stroke Statistics—2015 Update, Dariush Mozaffarian; et. al,
American Heart Association, September 16, 2016
|
[11]
|
AHA Releases 2015
Heart and Stroke Statistics, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation,
September 16, 2016
|
For further information, please contact:
Kathy O'Reilly
Philips Group Communications
Tel.: +1 978-221-8919
E-mail: kathy.oreilly@philips.com
Twitter: @kathyoreilly
Ingrid Mitchell
Philips Patient Care and Monitoring Solutions
Tel: +1 978-482-5949
Mobile: +1 617-599-6624
E-mail: ingrid.e.mitchell@philips.com
About Royal
Philips
Royal Philips
(NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company
focused on improving people's health and enabling better
outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and
prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips
leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and
consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions.
Headquartered in the Netherlands,
the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided
therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as
well as in consumer health and home care.
Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2015 sales of
EUR 16.8 billion and employs
approximately 69,000 employees with sales and services in more than
100 countries. News about Philips can be found at
www.philips.com/newscenter.
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