Automated external defibrillators (AED) allow almost any lay rescuer to bring cutting-edge technology to victims of cardiac arrest. These devices deliver enough energy to reset a quivering heart and allow it to beat normally. Used with CPR, an AED can provide the jolt necessary to truly save a life.
Philips HeartStart OnSite AED
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Absolutely the most basic of all defibrillators. This AED doesn't have a display, which may be good or bad. On one hand, it keeps rescuers from being distracted. On the other hand, rescuers have to pay attention to the AED's voice prompts. It's very easy during an emergency to miss the automated instructions. Unfortunately, the machine doesn't know you didn't hear it. This is such a simple product that anyone with basic knowledge about AED use should be able to work it.
Powerheart AED G3 Plus
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Not a common brand in my neck of the woods, and quality means a lot when you're talking about life and death. As far as features, however, this thing has all the bells and whistles:
- metronome
- daily, weekly and monthly self-tests
- monthly full-power test
- pads aren't specific to left or right (can't mess it up)
- voice and text prompts
- 4-year battery and 7-year AED warranty
Philips M3861A Heart Start FR2+ Defibrillator Without ECG
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Basic operation requiring only a power switch and a shock button. It doesn't get much easier than this. The display does not include an ECG tracing, which is only necessary for paramedics and above. There's no need to see the squiggly lines if you can't do anything about them. I've used this model, and I like it quite a bit.
Zoll Aed Plus with Display
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Zoll, as with Philips, has a great reputation in emergency medical services. You'll see this brand in the hospital quite often. This model has a display to keep you on track. Like I've said before, displays are mixed blessings.
- CPR feedback (tells you if you're doing it right)
- one pad instead of two
- kid capable
- consumer lithium camera batteries
MRL Welch Allyn AED-20 Deluxe
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This is a fancy machine intended for tiered responses, which means it can be used by the First Responders as well as the paramedics. It shows the ECG tracing and has the ability for trained rescuers to override the automated system. This is way too much defibrillator for the average school or business, but not enough for the average advanced life support ambulance agency.
Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator
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Designed to be everybody-proof, this AED provides the absolute basics. It's designed for home use, which is great unless you live alone. This model coaches the rescuer through CPR and the defibrillation process. It senses what you're doing and makes adjustments. It also checks itself every day to make sure it is ready when you need it.
Philips M3860A Heart Start FR2+ Defibrillator
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This is the workhorse of Philips' line. It can be purchased with the ECG tracing, but I highly discourage that for basic users. If you're using an automated defibrillator, you don't have any control over whether a shock is necessary, which means paying more to see the squiggly lines is absolutely useless to you. This model can shock kids if necessary and has a long-life battery, which is good if the ambulance is far away.
Philips HeartStart FR2+ Defibrillator ISGPLPM3860A
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This is the version with ECG tracing and is switchable from automatic mode to manual mode, useful for tiered systems. The ability to switch between levels of responders is not something that can be adapted anywhere — it has to be a part of an integrated system. Don't buy something such as this expecting it to benefit you once the ambulance arrives. Trust me, they brought their own machine. If you do need a tiered response-ready model, however, Phillips is a very good brand.
