Cardiac Science AEDs are designed for use by anyone who has undergone basic training (typically 4-6 hours in duration) within any suitable community environment.

In achieving this, the following key challenges have been considered as the basis for designing the FirstSave device:

• Ensure that the AED is always Ready For Use in environments where the device may sit for many months, if not years, without being used or without access to regular service checks.
• Ensure that the AED is Easy To Use, again realising that those who are tasked with performing this life saving technique may well be doing this for the first time. Ease of use is critical to ensure the shock is delivered in the shortest possible time, and by users who themselves will be experiencing understandable stress when faced with a SCA victim.
• Integrate technology that maximises the chance of achieving successful defibrillation, ensuring that enough energy is provided to meet each individual patients', whilst at the same time, avoiding giving too much - STAR Biphasic Technology.
• Offer a flexible and comprehensive solution to Data Management, ensuring that critical patient data is safely stored and easily retrieved.

As early defibrillation is now being seen as a skill aligned more to Basic Life Support than Advanced Life Support, decision makers need to consider the choice of AED by viewing them through the eyes of those who will be tasked with using them.