London Fire Brigade Standardizes On Zoll AED 3 BLS
CHELMSFORD, MASS.—ZOLL® Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group Company that manufactures medical devices and related software solutions, announced today that the London Fire Brigade (LFB), the busiest fire and rescue service in the United Kingdom and one of the largest firefighting and rescue organizations in the world, has standardized on the ZOLL AED 3 ™* BLS (basic life support) automated external defibrillator.
LFB is the first rescue service in the U.K. to implement the ZOLL AED 3. A total of 184 ZOLL AED 3 BLS units are now in use in throughout LFB’s 103 fire stations, which provide emergency service 24 hours a day year round.
According to LFB Assistant Commissioner Richard Mills, Head of Operational Policy and Assurance, following the July 2005 terrorist attack, the 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 front line fire engines, fire rescue units, fireboats, and rapid response teams be equipped with AEDs. The ZOLL AED 3 is now the AED for the IEC.
“During the trial period, LFB found that the ZOLL AED 3 was easy to use,” said AC Mills. “Its control buttons are easily identifiable and the screen information includes ECG data.”
Colin Parker, Immediate Emergency Care Programme Manager added, “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 analysea heart rhythm in 3 seconds, compared to existing devices, which take up to 12 seconds,” he said. “MinimisingCPR pause time for more continuous lifesaving CPR care can improve patient outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest.”
Wi-Fi Connectivity
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.
About the ZOLL AED 3 BLS
The ZOLL AED 3 BLS is designed and built upon years of usability research with both trained and untrained rescuers. It is designed specifically for the needs of professional rescuers. This model offers a CPR Dashboard™, which shows critical information such as theECG, compression depth and rate, CPR cycle countdown timer, shock count, and total elapsed time. The ZOLL AED 3 BLS is among the fastest AEDs at delivering a shock after each period of chest compressions. The ZOLL AED 3 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.
About Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
SCA is an abrupt disruption of the heart’s function, which causes a lack of blood flow to vital organs. It is the leading cause of unexpected death in the world and strikes without warning. When sudden cardiac arrest occurs, only half of the victims will need a shock, but all will require CPR. Unfortunately, in most countries, survival rates are typically less than 8%; improvements in resuscitation practices could save as many as half of these victims.
About ZOLL Medical Corporation
ZOLL Medical Corporation, an Asahi Kasei Group Company, develops and markets medical devices and software solutions that help advance emergency care and save lives, while increasing clinical and operational efficiencies. With products for defibrillation and monitoring, circulation and CPR feedback, data management, therapeutic temperature management, and ventilation, ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies that help clinicians, EMS and fire professionals, and lay rescuers treat victims needing resuscitation and acute critical care. For more information, visit www.zoll.com.
