MEDIC FIRST AID® today announced that pediatric defibrillation training will become available as part of the emergency care training programs it offers for business, industry and the general public. The training features defibrillation of infants and small children with the Philips Heartstream FR2 automated external defibrillator (AED).

The FR2 is a portable, lightweight device that provides treatment for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The FR2 is the only AED granted 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use on children. When equipped with specially designed defibrillation pads, the FR2 can be used on infants and children up to eight years old or weighing up to 55 pounds.

"Pediatric defibrillation instruction on the Philips Heartstream FR2 AED is an appropriate addition to our existing emergency response training programs," said Maryl Barker, president of MEDIC FIRST AID. "MEDIC FIRST AID has always been an innovator in the field of training and, in that spirit, we are the first to include the addition of pediatric defibrillation instruction into our programs. Now that the specialized tools are available to save young children from cardiac arrest, we should train emergency responders on how to use them."

The FR2 pediatric capabilities will be integrated into an add-on training supplement that can be used in MEDIC FIRST AID training programs.

SCA is a leading cause of death in the United States, striking approximately 250,000 Americans annually, including small children. AEDs provide treatment by delivering an electric shock to the heart that can re-establish a regular heartbeat. However, to be effective, the shock must be applied within the first few minutes following an arrest. The FR2 provides defibrillation therapy, or an electrical shock, to the heart of an SCA victim.

AEDs are designed to deliver a level of energy that is appropriate for adults. A technical innovation built into Philips pediatric pads provides specialized treatment to children by lowering levels of energy through the pads to appropriate levels when used with the FR2 AED. By training first responders to use pediatric pads, precious lives can be saved by diminishing treatment delays that may occur in waiting for paramedics to arrive.

"We need to protect the most precious part of our society and that is our children," said Dr. Frank Cecchin, assistant professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and associate in Cardiology at Children's Hospital in Boston. "Pediatric-specific automated defibrillation needs to be available wherever children are present and should be a part of the basic training of all emergency response personnel. It is only then that we will save more children's lives."

About MEDIC FIRST AID®
MEDIC FIRST AID provides comprehensive first aid, emergency care, health, and safety-oriented training programs to business, industry, and the general public. These innovative programs are medically, technically, and educationally valid. A combination of highly structured, tested, and effective print and video instructional materials are used to meet our clients' needs using the most effective, modern training methods.

Founded in 1977 as Emergency Medical Planning, MEDIC FIRST AID training programs were developed in response to the need for business and industry to provide safe work sites and to train individuals how to respond to emergencies. MEDIC FIRST AID training programs are taught in over 140 countries and are designed to meet occupational requirements for first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training.