8th July 2024 – ViVest is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Hato Hone St John, aimed at revolutionizing cardiac emergency response across New Zealand. This collaboration has resulted in the creation, production, and upcoming release of an innovative new Automated External Defibrillator (AED), available for public use from early May.
These will be the first-ever Hato Hone St John branded defibrillators and can deliver a shock to the patient in as little as seven seconds. These AEDs provide user-friendly visual and verbal instructions, ensuring ease of use for everyone, regardless of prior training.
Accessible, up-to-date, and easy-to-use AEDs are crucial for public safety in the event of a cardiac arrest. The latest out-of-hospital cardiac arrest report from Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance highlights that only 11% of cardiac arrests occurring outside of hospitals survived. The critical first seconds and minutes following a cardiac event are vital, with early and proper use of CPR and an AED significantly increasing survival chances.
Hato Hone St John AED
The new PowerBeat X1 and X3 models feature several innovative capabilities, including:
Child Mode Function: This feature delivers defibrillation at energy levels that are safe and effective for children under 8 years old or weighing less than 25 kg. With a simple press of the 'Child button,' the AED recalibrates to administer lower-energy shocks, adhering to the latest pediatric care standards.
Colored LCD Screen: Provides animated, step-by-step instructions, simplifying the rescue process so that anyone can act as a rescuer.
Lightweight and Compact Design: Weighing only 1.5kg, these AEDs are easy to store and mobile enough to be transported and used in extreme environments.
Simon Barnett, Head of Public Training & Medical Products for Hato Hone St John, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Our goal is simple. We want to increase the number of top-quality AEDs that are accessible to the public throughout New Zealand. Nobody wants to witness a cardiac arrest, but if that was your loved one, then you’d want to know they had the best possible chance of survival.”
Gorm Albeck, Senior Sales Director for ViVest, echoed this sentiment: “Through this collaboration, the people of Aotearoa will benefit from improved accessibility to life-saving technology. Our joint efforts will enhance the community’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies, potentially increasing survival rates from sudden cardiac arrests.
“Our decision to partner with Hato Hone St John was driven by their unparalleled reputation as New Zealand's most reputable charity organization and their status as the country's largest provider of First Aid/CPR/AED training. Their commitment to community health and safety aligns perfectly with our mission at ViVest to advance medical technology accessibility. This partnership allows us to leverage our strengths and maximize our impact on public health preparedness.”
Mr. Barnett also expressed excitement about the future technical development roadmap: “This partnership will provide Hato Hone St John with an innovative roadmap over the next 5 years to ensure we continue to bring the best products to the market.”
“This is an exciting initiative that we hope will bring immeasurable reward to the public,” he added.
ViVest
ViVest is an innovative medical technology company specializing in the prevention and management of ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac rhythm data services. They are dedicated to providing a comprehensive solution for the prevention, monitoring, treatment, and rehabilitation of ventricular arrhythmias worldwide, aiming to create a non-invasive platform for the prevention and treatment of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest. Through their integrated approach that includes stationary AEDs, mobile AEDs, and drone-based AEDs, they significantly enhance emergency response efficiency and improve AED coverage.
HATO HONE ST JOHN
Hato Hone St John provides emergency ambulance services to 90 percent of New Zealanders and covers 97 percent of the country's geographical area. Hato Hone St John is made up of a mix of full-time paid employees and volunteer staff. Hato Hone St John also delivers event health services, medical alarm services, first aid training and operates retail stores across the country.