Seven emergency heart defibrillators for use by all HSPH members have been installed at the School and at HMS at the following locations.

HSPH Locations

HMS Locations

The defibrillators are small and lightweight. Removing the plastic tag that says "Pull" triggers programmed, step-by-step voice instructions.

The HeartStart OnSite Defibrillators, made by Philips, can be used on people who weigh 55 pounds or more and who are in sudden cardiac arrest.

In most victims, sudden cardiac arrest is reversible if treated quickly with defibrillation, which gives an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). A victim's chances of survival are reduced seven to 10 percent with every minute that passes without defibrillation. Few attempts at resuscitation succeed after 10 minutes. About 10,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur at work each year in the U.S., according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Both the AHA and OSHA recommend availability of automatic external defibrillators in large workplaces.

Sudden cardiac arrest involves the malfunctioning of the heart's electrical signals and is not the same as a heart attack, which involves blockages of the heart's blood supply. In cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating effectively, blood does not circulate, and no pulse can be felt, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The victim collapses suddenly into unconsciousness and may not have felt any prior pain or discomfort. The NHLBI recommends immediate treatment with defibrillation or with CPR followed by defibrillation.

Each battery-run defibrillator is housed in a heavy-gauge steel and tempered glass case. Opening a case triggers an alarm, which automatically alerts the FXB Security Desk and the Harvard University Police Department to send responders to the location. This mechanism ensures that help is on the way, even if someone is too unsure or too upset to use the defibrillator on a victim of cardiac arrest.

The defibrillators are designed with use by lay people in mind. Each lightweight unit is tucked into a small, red carrying case. Removing a plastic cover marked "Pull" from the front of the unit triggers programmed voice commands that will lead the user through the next steps, including how to place defibrillator pads on the victim.

Housed with the defibrillators are separate kits that include a mask through which CPR can be hygienically delivered, gloves, a razor for shaving chest hair for pad application, scissors for removing clothing, and paper towels.

Questions may be directed to Operations at 617-432-1152.