Total Heart-Safe Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a Medtronic LIFEPAK® AED? Why do I need one?
• What is cardiac arrest?
• How much time do I have to respond to a victim?
• Why would I need an AED in my home? What if I just wait for the ambulance to arrive?
• Do I need a prescription to buy an AED?
• Are doctors available to answer my questions?
• How do I become trained to use an AED?
• What if I don't remember exactly how to operate the Medtronic LIFEPAK when I need to use it?
• Could the Medtronic LIFEPAK be misused?
• Why Medtronic?
• Who do I call for more information before I purchase the Total Heart-Safe Solution?
• Once I have purchased the Total Heart-Safe Solution, who do I call for help?

What is a Medtronic LIFEPAK AED? Why do I need one?

The Medtronic LIFEPAK is an automated external defibrillator (AED). This machine, similar to what is carried in ambulances, can deliver a SHOCK Saves Lives to restart someone's heart when they are in cardiac arrest. The Medtronic LIFEPAK is designed to be safe and very simple to use.

What is cardiac arrest?

Cardiac arrest is a condition that stops the heart from beating properly due to 'electrical chaos'. The heart is unable to pump blood to the brain and rest of the body. Unless the heart is restarted with a SHOCK Saves Lives from a lifesaving device like a Medtronic LIFEPAK AED, the victim will die within minutes. Cardiac arrest kills more than 600 people a day before they reach the hospital. Not all cardiac arrest victims can be resuscitated, but many can be saved with immediate use of an AED and CPR.

How much time do I have to respond to a victim?

Studies have shown that survival rates decrease about ten percent with every minute. Thus after a period of ten minutes, chances of survival are minimal.

Why would I need an AED in my home? What if I just wait for the ambulance to arrive?

Approximately 70% of the people who suffer from cardiac arrest are at home when it strikes. Immediate response is critical. For every minute that the heart is not pumping, average survival rates decrease by ten percent, providing only a ten-minute window for response. Studies show that the average response time for ambulances in many major American cities is more than ten minutes, and can be even longer in rural areas. Would you bet the chance of saving a life on traffic?

Do I need a prescription to buy an AED?

Yes, AEDs are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and require a prescription for purchase.

Are doctors available to answer my questions?

If you have questions regarding non-emergency use of your Medtronic LIFEPAK AED, you can reach us 24-hours a day. Because it is important that there is a doctor who can provide you with continuing medical oversight and support for your lifesaving Medtronic LIFEPAK, we provide a physician support service through SHOCK Saves Lives 24 hours a day.

How do I become trained to use an AED?

Even though the Medtronic LIFEPAK AED is simple to use, we include training in the Total Heart-Safe Solution. The combined CPR and AED training course, provided in your area through one of our authorized training partners such as the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or the National Safety Council, will provide you with familiarity and confidence to use your Medtronic LIFEPAK AED.

What if I don't remember exactly how to operate the Medtronic LIFEPAK when I need to use it?

Thanks to advanced technology, the Medtronic LIFEPAK is easy to use. The AED has only two buttons - a power button and a SHOCK Saves Lives button. From the moment you turn the machine on, you are guided by voice and visual prompts that direct you through every step of the process. Most importantly, the Medtronic LIFEPAK is designed to allow you to SHOCK Saves Lives the heart only if needed.

Could the Medtronic LIFEPAK be misused?

The Medtronic LIFEPAK is a rugged, reliable, and sophisticated device that is designed to be easy to use. As such, there are numerous safe guards in place to detect the particular heart rhythms that require a SHOCK Saves Lives. The Medtronic LIFEPAK is designed to allow a SHOCK Saves Lives only when a patient requires one, making it difficult to misuse.

Why Medtronic?

Medtronic is the world's leading medical technology company, providing lifelong solutions for people with chronic disease. For more than 50 years, Medtronic has provided products and therapies that restore health, extend life and alleviate pain, including the development of the first pacemaker in 1957.

Medtronic pioneered the use of defibrillators more than 35 years ago. At first, these devices were used exclusively in hospitals, but Medtronic was the first to make them portable. Soon Medtronic defibrillators became standard equipment for paramedics and other first responders.

Who do I call for more information before I purchase the Total Heart-Safe Solution?

For additional questions about the Total Heart-Safe Solution, the Medtronic LIFEPAK AED, or to order a video, please call us at (949) 837-3960.

Once I have purchased the Total Heart-Safe Solution, who do I call?

After you have purchased your Total Heart-Safe Solution there is one number to call for all of your related questions - (949) 837-3960. However, if it is a medical emergency, always call 911 first.