When someone goes into cardiac arrhythmia or arrest, seconds count. There's a six minute window of time to get the heart beating at a steady pace again before permanent brain or cardiac damage or death occurs. While CPR has its place in keeping someone alive, there are times when the heart needs direct electrical stimulation to recalibrate or restart its pace.

While traditional models are transported on carts in hospitals or carried by paramedics, the new generation of defibrillators weigh only two pounds, making them light enough to be wall mounted next to a fire alarm or extinguisher in a public setting or carried from room to room in a home environment. That is where portable external defibrillators such as the Samaritan PAD Defibrillator come into play.

Assisting someone in cardiac arrest is quite stressful, but with voice and visual prompts, the Samaritan PAD Defibrillator gives step-by-step instructions for fast and accurate use by anyone whether he or she has medical training or is an inexperienced bystander. An icon shows where to place the pads on the patient's chest, and then the unit analyzes the patient's cardiac rhythms. If it determines that defibrillation is needed, it verbally and visually prompts the user to press the button and stand clear. The unit sends a SCOPE biphasic wave to the heart, regulating or restarting it as necessary, and optimizing it for the patient's unique needs.  If the patient doesn't need a shock, the PAD will not deliver one, preventing accidents. A third icon indicates when it's safe to touch the patient again, allowing helpers to resume CPR if necessary, or medical personnel to begin treatment safely.

The PAD has an internal memory capacity of 45 minutes and a USB port for allowing incident data to be reviewed by medical personnel once at the emergency room. Recorded information is downloaded via a custom USB cable and reviewed with SAVER software. Other indicators include a low battery prompt, a ready-to-use light, and a flashing service icon. Should the battery run out completely or the unit need servicing based on an automatic self-test, the service icon stops flashing.

Lithium batteries power the PAD, offering enough power to deliver over thirty shocks or six hours of continuous monitoring. The batteries and electrodes come in a combination pack with a three-year expiration date, reducing maintenance time. Each PAD comes with a battery pack and a carrying case. In addition to the Samaritan PAD unit, Rehabmart also carries replacement battery packs and a wall cabinet suitable for installation in public settings.    
 
The Samaritan PAD meets current guidelines issued by the American Heart Association for both 
CPR and ECG standards. In addition to public areas such as transportation stations, office buildings, and entertainment complexes, the Samaritan PAD may be carried on commercial or private aircraft as well as trains, assuring the timely arrival of help in the event of a cardiac crisis.

Fran Jablway,
Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO