FRIDAY, Sept. 17, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday cleared the way for defibrillators to be sold over the counter, specifically for use by laypeople.
Defibrillators are used to treat a person who has undergone cardiac arrest and whose heart is beating abnormally, or fibrillating. If the heart isn't returned to its normal beat within minutes, the problem could be fatal.
The HeartStart Home Defibrillator, made by Philips Medical Systems of Andover, Mass., is already available with a prescription. The FDA announced that it cleared the way for nonprescription sales after the company showed that a person could use the device without supervision from a doctor.
The defibrillator delivers a shock to the heart, while computers analyze the victim's rhythms and tell when a shock is needed. The lay user is guided through the process by voice and visual prompts.
To learn more about defibrillators, visit the American Heart Association.
