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Philips will provide 31 HeartStart MRx Monitor/Defibrillators and 36HeartStart AEDs to cover the race, including along the course and at first aidstations, medical tents and Red Cross stations. These devices will be insteady use, or at the ready, to support the more than 1,200 medical andnursing personnel that will staff the event.
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The HeartStart MRx Monitor/Defibrillator provides advanced functionalitywith the fastest time to shock of any monitor/defibrillator and the ability tosupport healthcare professionals in diagnosing both routine and criticalconditions, such as acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). The MRx issure to be a widely used tool for the Boston Marathon Medical Team as itprovides the technology to monitor and assess patients, including measuringheart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation, among other vital signs. Acommon risk for marathon runners is the onset of hyper- or hypothermia,conditions that require immediate diagnosis and treatment. The HeartStart MRxis the only device of its class equipped with on-board continuous temperaturemonitoring, which provides caregivers the vital information needed for suchpotential cases.
Deployment of defibrillators throughout the race course is also criticalto public safety since sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) requires immediatetreatment. Defibrillators deliver a potentially life-saving electric shock tothe heart to stop the most common cause of SCA -- an electric malfunction thatcauses rapid and chaotic heart activity, called ventricular fibrillation --and restore a normal heart rhythm.
"The health and safety of all runners, as well as spectators, of theBoston Marathon is our highest priority," said Pierre D'Hemecourt, M.D.,co-medical director for the Boston Athletic Association. "Race amenities suchas fluids, medical care and traffic safety are standard protocol, and withPhilips HeartStart AEDs and ALS monitors throughout the course, we areprepared to treat a number of medical emergencies rapidly and effectively."
Deemed one of the world's most prestigious and oldest annual road racingevents, the Boston Marathon draws more than 500,000 spectators along the26.2-mile course, making it New England's most widely viewed sporting event.However, with more than 20,000 official runners, each year the event presentsan opportunity to sharpen emergency preparedness skills.
In the case of SCA, a rapid response is the most important factor insaving a victim's life. At this year's marathon, defibrillators will beavailable at every mile post, assuring prompt medical attention regardless ofa runner's location on the course. Additionally, HeartStart MRx ALS monitorswill allow medical staff to assess and triage patients on-site.
SCA affects more than just elite athletes. As one of the leading causes ofdeath in the U.S., claiming more than 325,000 lives each year, SCA poses arisk for anyone, from young athletes, to weekend warriors setting out on newspring workout schedules, to people who do not participate in athleticactivities. In fact, more people die each year from SCA than from breastcancer, prostate cancer, AIDS, house fires, handguns and traffic accidentscombined.
"The Boston Marathon is a prestigious race and Philips is proud to play arole in safeguarding the event," said Michael Miller, senior vice president ofCardiac Care for Philips Healthcare. "Many runners attempting this awesom
