Aug 07, 2019

Enabling Everyone to Save a Life

Philips raises awareness on the need for Automated External Defibrillators (AED)

Manila, Philippines, Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) – According to recent statics, most deaths in the Philippines are linked to cardiovascular disease, with sudden cardiac arrest one of the most prevalent – being the cause of death of 170,000 Filipinos each year¹.

This figure is high due to inaccessible services and a lack of adequate training in using available medical equipment – something which Philips, a global leader in health technology, wishes to address with its Automated External Defibrillator (AED) – a portable medical device that delivers an electric shock to restore heart’s normal rhythm. Cardiac arrests can happen anywhere, at any time, and bystander intervention and treatment with an AED has been shown to triple the survival rate to 31.4 percent².

In 2017, the Philippines passed the “Defibrillators in Public Places Act”³requiring AEDs to be placed in government buildings and private places.

Ashwin Chari, country manager of Philips Philippines Inc. says “Philips is committed to delivering high quality, innovative AEDs to provide personalized therapy to victims of sudden cardiac arrest. We will continue to innovate and provide our customers with reliable easy-to-use lifesaving technology. In this way, apart from saving lives which is the core of our concern, we can also relieve the increasing pressure on the healthcare system in our country.”

AEDs usually come with step-by-step guidelines, but Philips wishes to equip people with the knowledge and awareness of AED and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) beforehand, so they know how to respond during unpredictable situations when emergency response is needed.

Here are Philips’ quick and easy AED and CPR tips to prepare those are first on site.

How to use an AED

Call emergency medical services immediately. The nationwide emergency hotline is “911”.
Turn on the AED and follow the instructions step by step:
Remove clothes from patient’s chest. Make sure patient’s chest is bare and dry.
Apply the AED pads on the patient’s upper left chest and lower right side (refer to illustration).
The AED will analyze the patient’s rhythm to see if an electric shock must be delivered. Stay clear of the patient while this is happening.
If AED advises you to deliver a shock, tell any bystanders to stand clear and press the “shock” button once clear. If no shock is advised, begin CPR immediately.
Begin CPR.

How to do CPR

Place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest between the nipples, and the other hand on top of the first.
Push the chest down firmly 2 inches (5 cm) deep. Give 30 compressions to the chest.
Pinch the patient’s nose, tilt their head upward, and give 2 full breaths.
Continue compressions to the chest.
Monitor for any changes in breathing and continue to follow AED’s instructions.

Around the world, public spaces such as shopping malls, train stations, airports and schools, are required to be equipped with AEDs and in the coming years, Philips plans to drive further awareness through strategic partnerships and initiatives that will allow AEDs to be readily available anytime, anywhere.

Philips recently announced shipment of its two-millionth AED which was delivered to a customer in Italy. This achievement marks a major milestone in almost 20 years of Philips innovation in cardiac resuscitation aimed at providing personalized therapy to victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

Find out more about automated external defibrillators (AED) at https://www.philips.com.ph/

¹Cardiac arrest deaths can be prevented if people knew how to give CPR. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.manilastandard.net/mobile/article/200776

² Response to Cardiac Arrest and Selected Life-Threatening Medical Emergencies, Mary Fran Hazinski; et al, American Heart Association, September 16, 2016

³ http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/basic_17/HB05327.pdf

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2018 sales of EUR 18.1 billion and employs approximately 77,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

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