Opening the lid turns FirstSave on, and once the electrodes are placed on the patient's chest, FirstSave automatically begins analyzing the heart rhythm. If a life-saving defibrillation shock is required, there is only one button for the user to push when instructed by the device's text screen or voice prompts. With these patented features, there are fewer critical decisions made by the user and less confusion than with any other AED available. All of which is extremely important when a user is faced with the emotional and mental stress associated with rescue situations. There are a number of ways for an AED to deliver a defibrillation shock.
Some devices deliver the same level of energy each time a shock is delivered.
Others deliver higher levels of energy with each shock, but still administer the same energy for every patient. Defibrillation threshold, cellular response and charge balancing principles are key to determining which energy level is appropriate for a given patient. These concepts have been used in the implantable defibrillator industry for many years. Survivalink incorporated these factors into external defibrillation to develop its STAR Biphasic technology. Survivalink's proprietary STAR Biphasic technology introduced escalating biphasic energy and developed the concept of customized, variable energy.