Hato Hone St John has partnered with medical technology manufacturer ViVest to create, produce and sell an innovative new Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
These will be the first-ever Hato Hone St John branded defibrillators and can deliver a shock to the patient in as little as seven seconds. The device issues user friendly visual and verbal instructions, making it simple for anyone to navigate – regardless of whether they have received any prior training in AED usage.
Having accessible, up-to-date and easy-to-use AEDs is essential in the event that someone suffers a cardiac arrest in public. Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance’s latest out of hospital cardiac arrest report confirms that only 11% of cardiac arrests that occur out of hospital are survived. The first seconds and minutes to follow a cardiac event are vital, and early and proper use of CPR and an AED increase the chances of survival greatly.
Innovative features of the new PowerBeat X1 and X3 models include, but aren’t limited to:
- Child mode function - designed to deliver defibrillation at energy levels that are safe and effective for children under 8 years old or less than 25 kg. With a simple press of the 'Child button', the AED recalibrates to administer lower-energy shocks, adhering to the latest paediatric care standards.
- A coloured LCD screen that provides animated, step-by-step instructions, simplifying the rescue process so that anyone can act as a rescuer.
- Lightweight at 1.5kg, but also compact - making them suitable for storage, and mobile enough to transport and use in extreme environments.
Simon Barnett, Head of Public Training & Medical Products for Hato Hone St John says, “Our goal is simple. We want to increase the number of top-quality AEDs that are accessible to the public throughout New Zealand. Nobody wants to witness a cardiac arrest, but if that was your loved one, then you’d want to know they had the best possible chance of survival.”
Gorm Albeck, Senior Sales Director for ViVest agrees.
“Through this collaboration, the people of Aotearoa will benefit from improved accessibility to life-saving technology. Our joint efforts will enhance the community’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies, potentially increasing survival rates from sudden cardiac arrests.
“Our decision to partner with Hato Hone St John was driven by their unparalleled reputation as New Zealand's most reputable charity organisation and their status as the country's largest provider of First Aid/CPR/AED training. Their commitment to community health and safety aligns perfectly with our mission at ViVest to advance medical technology accessibility. This partnership allows us to leverage our strengths and maximise our impact on public health preparedness.”
Mr Barnett is also excited about the future technical development roadmap “This partnership will provide Hato Hone St John with an innovative roadmap over the next 5 years to ensure we continue to bring the best products to the market”
“This is an exciting initiative that we hope will bring immeasurable reward to the public.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND IMAGES CONTACT:
Hato Hone St John media team
PH: 0800 756 334 | E: media@stjohn.org.nz