ZOLL® Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group Company that manufactures medical devices and related software solutions, has announced that the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has standardised on the ZOLL AED 3™* BLS (basic life support) automated external defibrillator.
LFB is the first fire and rescue service in the UK to implement the ZOLL AED 3. A total of 184 units are now in use throughout brigade’s 103 fire stations.
Following the July 2005 terrorist attack, LFB implemented the Immediate Emergency Care (IEC) programme, which provides clinical guidance for patient care for all LFB crews. Part of the programme mandates that all frontline fire appliances, fire rescue units, fireboats and rapid response teams be equipped with AEDs. The ZOLL AED 3 is now the AED for the IEC.
Colin Parker, Immediate Emergency Care Programme Manager, said, “Prompts provided by Real CPR Help®, its real-time CPR feedback, are easy to follow especially in high-pressure situations.”
He said that placing the ZOLL AED 3 into child mode is a significant feature, having only to depress a button.
Parker also commented on the uniqueness of the ZOLL AED 3’s RapidShock™ Analysis technology, which decreases heart analysis time and pauses in chest compressions.
“RapidShock Analysis can analyse a heart rhythm in three seconds, compared to existing devices, which take up to 12 seconds,” he said. “Minimising CPR pause time for more continuous lifesaving CPR care can improve patient outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest.”
LFB also cited that Wi-Fi capability was another significant factor in selecting the ZOLL AED 3. Cloud connectivity enables automatic reporting of device status, giving rescuers the confidence the AED is ready in an emergency. Wi-Fi also provides the ability to quickly access and transmit cardiac arrest event data to medical professionals.
The ZOLL AED 3 BLS is designed specifically for the needs of professional rescuers. This model offers a CPR Dashboard™, which shows critical information such as the ECG, compression depth and rate, CPR cycle countdown timer, shock count, and total elapsed time. It is among the fastest AEDs at delivering a shock after each period of chest compressions. It is equipped with universal adult/paediatric electrode pads and a battery that lasts five years, which means less maintenance, a lower cost of ownership, and an AED that will be ready for the rescue.
