New talking defibrillator helps paramedics save lives

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

A new defibrillator from Philips talks paramedics through CPR and shuts up when they get it right.



NEW YORK - A talking defibrillator, the first of its kind, could soon be in the hands of paramedics to help them focus on one of the most important but often downplayed aspects of CPR following a heart attack, chest compressions.

Q-CPR, a monitoring and feedback system that speaks instructions to stressed-out, multi-tasking paramedics, will hit the streets in the next few weeks as an optional feature for the HeartStart MRx monitor/defibrillator.

"It's like a very good instructor whispering into your ear, telling you what to do," said Dr. Kenneth Morallee, vice president of strategic development for Laerdal, the Norwegian co-developer of the new device. "If you do it well, it shuts up."„

Full Story:„http://money.cnn.com/2005/12/01/news/international/cpr/