American Heart Association: A national health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
“We are unaware of any published or unpublished evidence that requiring a prescription prior to dispensing an AED increases the likelihood that a responder will be able to use the device, or that a prescription requirement decreases inappropriate use or adverse effects. Therefore, the American Heart Association supports removal of the prescription requirement for AEDs.”
Graham Nichol, M.D.
Chair of the American Heart Association’s AED Task Force.
American Red Cross: A humanitarian organization, helping millions of people each year prevent, prepare for, and cope with emergencies.
“Sudden cardiac arrest can happen anytime and anywhere and it claims the lives of more than 680 Americans each day. The American Red Cross believes that this is a tragedy that can and should be prevented. We believe the introduction of an over-the-counter AED would be a positive step toward ensuring that properly trained citizens are better able to respond to an unexpected cardiac emergency event.”
The National Safety Council's mission is "to educate and influence society to adopt safety, health and environmental policies, practices and procedures."
The National Safety Council applauds the approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a version of the automated external defibrillator (AED) for home use:
"The FDA's approval of AED use in the home is a giant step forward," said NSC President Alan McMillan. "In the future, AEDs will be as commonplace in homes and public venues as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are now. We also think that more businesses will be compelled to deploy these lifesaving devices in their workplaces, thereby saving more lives."
Read the entire statement from the National Safety Council.
ChainofSurvival.com: This website provides information about the American Heart Association's concept of the Chain of Survival, sudden cardiac arrest, and starting an early defibrillation program.
National Center for Early Defibrillation: A not-for-profit information resource center based at the University of Pittsburgh, dedicated to fostering optimal immediate care for victims of sudden cardiac arrest by providing leadership, expertise and information related to early defibrillation.
“A change enabling over-the-counter sales of AEDs to consumers has the potential to have a strong positive impact on SCA survival nationwide without incurring risk to future SCA victims or their rescuers. We do not believe that the prescription requirement provides significant efficacy or safety benefit for personal purchase and use of AEDs, and indeed is an impediment to more widespread availability of this life-saving therapy in the setting where it occurs most often.”
WebMD Health: In conjunction with WebMD, Philips offers the "HeartStart Home Defibrillator Resource Center." In the Resource Center, consumers can learn more about sudden cardiac arrest, the need for early defibrillation in the event of sudden cardiac arrest, the role of the HeartStart Home Defibrillator, and the ability to take action-including registering for a special report newsletter and participating in WebMD online communities.
