Description:

The Philips HeartStart FRx Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a rugged, semi-automatic device built for first-responders who may need to treat sudden-cardiac-arrest victims in demanding environments—stadiums, industrial sites, aircraft, or roadside scenes. Weighing just 3.5 lb with its four-year lithium battery and SMART Pads II pre-connected, the FRx powers-on with a single green button and is typically ready to deliver therapy in under eight seconds. Clear, adaptive voice prompts, an optional CPR metronome, and an illuminated “i-button” coach rescuers step-by-step, while Philips’ SMART Analysis algorithm continually reads the patient’s ECG and adjusts its biphasic waveform to a nominal 150 J adult dose (automatically compensating for patient impedance). A unique Infant/Child Key instantly reduces energy to 50 J, switches to pediatric CPR coaching, and alters the heart-rhythm criteria—so the same pads work for both age groups. Engineered for harsh duty, the FRx carries an IP55 dust-/water-jet rating, survives 1.2 m (4 ft) drops and 1,100 lb crush-tests, and conducts more than 85 automatic self-checks to keep itself mission-ready.

Economic Advantage:

At launch, most field AEDs required separate pediatric pads, offered lower ingress-protection, and took 15-plus seconds to charge. Philips’ FRx changed that calculus: the reusable Infant/Child Key eliminated the recurring cost and expiry waste of dedicated pediatric electrodes, while its IP55 sealed housing allowed agencies to deploy a single, durable unit across outdoor, marine, and industrial settings instead of buying purpose-specific models. Coupled with a four-year standby battery and industry-leading sub-eight-second shock-readiness, the FRx delivered a meaningfully lower total cost of ownership and faster time-to-therapy for public-access programs and professional responders alike.