The Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator is the first AED cleared for over-the-counter sale.

"It is important to recognize that for a substantial percentage of sudden cardiac arrest victims, cardiac arrest is the first sign of heart disease," said Dr. Jeremy Ruskin, director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia and Pacemaker Service at Massachusetts General Hospital. "We know that access to early defibrillation helps save lives. Removal of the prescription requirement for the HeartStart Home Defibrillator gives people freedom of choice to be better prepared for unexpected cardiac arrest--a rare but life-threatening emergency."

AEDs are safe and easy to use. The HeartStart AED provides clear voice instructions that guide responders through the defibrillation process, reminding them to call for emergency help and providing CPR coaching. The AED senses the responder's actions and automatically adjusts the pace of the voice instructions. Daily self-tests render the device nearly maintenance free. A loud chirp alerts family members when any part of the system needs attention.

Dr. P. K. Shah, director of the division of cardiology and the Atherosclerosis Research Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, believes that having the at-home defbrillators immediately available in the event of a heart attack is a good idea.

"This is a long overdue step which I strongly support," says Dr. Shah. "Because 70 to 80 percent of all cardiac arrests occur in the home environment, there is a need for these devices to be available in people's homes, so lives can be saved."