A multi-mode defibrillator (102; 300), comprising: a device housing that defines a front side of the defibrillator that is positioned to be visible to a user of the defibrillator during use of the defibrillator; an electronic display positioned at the front side of the defibrillator to be visible to a user of the defibrillator; a user interface positioned at the front side of the defibrillator adjacent the electronic display, the user interface comprising: a display area comprising a thin panel (302; 402) having a substantially flat front surface portion along the front side of the defibrillator; a translucent face layer behind, and aligned with, the thin panel (302; 402); one or more controls positioned behind the thin panel; a layer of text or graphics behind, and aligned with the translucent face layer, and arranged so that the text or graphics is not visible to a user on the front side of the defibrillator when light is not provided from inside the device housing and is visible when light is provided by one or more light sources behind the layer of text or graphics; and a switch (116, 204) to allow a user to select a basic life support mode or an advanced life support mode for the defibrillator, the switch being designed to be visible both in the basic life support mode and in the advanced life support mode; and circuitry arranged to energize the one or more light sources to provide light from behind the thin panel in response to the defibrillator being switched to the advanced life support mode, and thereby to change, in combination with the face layer, at least a portion of the text or graphics from being not visible to being visible so as to indicate the position and function of the one or more controls, so that while the display area is visible to a user of the device in the basic life support mode and in the advanced life support mode, at least a portion of said one or more controls are visible only when the defibrillator is operated in the advanced life support mode but are not visible when the defibrillator is operated in the basic life support mode. a device housing that defines a front side of the defibrillator that is positioned to be visible to a user of the defibrillator during use of the defibrillator; an electronic display positioned at the front side of the defibrillator to be visible to a user of the defibrillator; a user interface positioned at the front side of the defibrillator adjacent the electronic display, the user interface comprising: a display area comprising a thin panel (302; 402) having a substantially flat front surface portion along the front side of the defibrillator; a translucent face layer behind, and aligned with, the thin panel (302; 402); one or more controls positioned behind the thin panel; a layer of text or graphics behind, and aligned with the translucent face layer, and arranged so that the text or graphics is not visible to a user on the front side of the defibrillator when light is not provided from inside the device housing and is visible when light is provided by one or more light sources behind the layer of text or graphics; and a switch (116, 204) to allow a user to select a basic life support mode or an advanced life support mode for the defibrillator, the switch being designed to be visible both in the basic life support mode and in the advanced life support mode; and a display area comprising a thin panel (302; 402) having a substantially flat front surface portion along the front side of the defibrillator; a translucent face layer behind, and aligned with, the thin panel (302; 402); one or more controls positioned behind the thin panel; a layer of text or graphics behind, and aligned with the translucent face layer, and arranged so that the text or graphics is not visible to a user on the front side of the defibrillator when light is not provided from inside the device housing and is visible when light is provided by one or more light sources behind the layer of text or graphics; and a switch (116, 204) to allow a user to select a basic life support mode or an advanced life support mode for the defibrillator, the switch being designed to be visible both in the basic life support mode and in the advanced life support mode; and circuitry arranged to energize the one or more light sources to provide light from behind the thin panel in response to the defibrillator being switched to the advanced life support mode, and thereby to change, in combination with the face layer, at least a portion of the text or graphics from being not visible to being visible so as to indicate the position and function of the one or more controls, so that while the display area is visible to a user of the device in the basic life support mode and in the advanced life support mode, at least a portion of said one or more controls are visible only when the defibrillator is operated in the advanced life support mode but are not visible when the defibrillator is operated in the basic life support mode.