Cardiac arrest is a sudden and extremely dangerous loss of heart function: without immediate treatment, it can quickly be fatal. Every minute without treatment increases the chance of death by 10%.

Fortunately, automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can provide life-saving electrical shocks that dramatically increase survival rates, and can be used by almost anyone, with no medical training required. 

Most sudden cardiac arrests (SCAs) are caused by a malfunction in the heart’s electrical system called ventricular fibrillation, but there are multiple other potential causes. No matter what the underlying cause, AEDs analyze the heart’s rhythm to determine if a shock is appropriate, then deliver the shock or shocks as needed. 

Commercial AEDs have become much more widespread in public spaces, but 70% of SCA deaths occur in the home. The Defibrio defibrillator is designed for home use: it’s portable and powered and controlled by an Android smartphone. While defibrillation does not guarantee recovery from cardiac arrest, having a Defibrio defibrillator in your home can make it more likely that a loved one gets the help they need in the critical first minutes after SCA.