LED flashlight talks you through basic CPR

Here's a survival product combo we never thought of: an LED flashlight that talks you through the basic steps of CPR. It sort of makes sense, at least: high-efficiency LED in an ultra-compact AAA battery-based design that will talk you through an important emergency skill while the world crumbles around you. The whole flashlight measures 4-inches in length and sports push-button on/off and CPR read-off. Images of armageddon and self-taught nurses abound.

[Amol @ Jun 8th 2008 7:43AM]

That flashlight oddly reminds me of a vibrator.

[marty.com.au @ Jun 8th 2008 8:51AM]

Well, that would also get your heart going too wouldnt it... :o)

[ReggieXuk @ Jun 8th 2008 7:47AM]

come again?

what does this do?

[ed @ Jun 8th 2008 9:24AM]

I'd expect it to say, "Give 30 compressions." Then count out each compression at the recommended interval. Then state, "Give 2 breaths." And start all over again...

[Niki @ Jun 8th 2008 5:10PM]

Well, I don't know what it actually does, but all it needs is a tiny little cell antenna. You hit the BIG RED BUTTON, and it contacts 911 and sends an ambulance. It's called "idiot proof" you idiots...

[Wwhat @ Jun 9th 2008 8:13AM]

Ever heard the stories about 911? And know the time you can end up waiting for them, if they even show up depending on the area? Right.

[StephenD @ Jun 8th 2008 8:29AM]

So does this mean if the victim dies, their family will now sue the flashlight manufacturer rather than the person trying to help?

[Phoenix @ Jun 8th 2008 11:00PM]

There's a little thing called the "Good Samaritan" law which protects people who attempt to save someone's life but fail.

[Tim @ Jun 8th 2008 9:26AM]

I just took a look at the guidelines, and assuming the flashlight gives layman instructions, it matches up with the red crosses instructions as well, with the exception of one thing: it doesnt call for the use of a jaw thrust in the case of a suspected head or neck injury. the revision is supposed to make it easier to remember, so there are fewer steps (thinking more people overall would at least get some cpr in an accident), but i think that is a mistake, personally. at least attempt the jaw thrust before gong into the head tilt/chin lift, ya know? i mean if someone is not breathing/ has no pulse (rescue breathing has been done away with, so same course of action in either case) the first response of course is to save the life rather than worry about the injury, But i think it could pretty easily accommodate both.

[mkeough23 @ Jun 8th 2008 9:51AM]

This is pretty cool.What they need are more AEDs. Theve gotten better but they still need alot more in public places.

[gmdude66 @ Jun 8th 2008 10:03AM]

Ok, so the person dies because you are too busy pressing buttons.

Wouldn't your first instinct be just to help the person?

Who is going to think "hmm, that person needs CPR, better grab my nifty LED flashlight"

[Craig @ Jun 8th 2008 4:54PM]

I envision some Engadget reader using this to "help" while another bystander initiates CPR: "No, Stop, You're doing it wrong! My flashlight says 30 compressions and you only did 28!"

[SimonRichards @ Jun 8th 2008 11:47AM]

...as if you are actually going to have this to hand when you need to give someone CPR...

pssh

[Wwhat @ Jun 9th 2008 8:18AM]

I'm guessing the idea is that the government or some welfare group orders 100,000 of them as a tool to make CPR more popular, and in that way the company made not only a nice profit but also helped some people survive, win-win.
Of course having some doofuses pressing your heart when you are unable to tell them you just fainted or are having an epileptic fit or something is a bit of a minus perhaps.

[Ryan @ Jun 8th 2008 12:04PM]

I had to take CPR for work at the Red Cross and this is a joke, because a CPR certification only lasts one year. Apparently, they modify CPR every year. Like you can't check an adult's pulse now, because of heart attack risks. So really this whole device is really pointless. Granted it might save a life, but still.

[phanbouy @ Jun 8th 2008 12:19PM]

zuh?

[BigD145 @ Jun 8th 2008 12:51PM]

CPR training does not change that much. I've had to take it a few times. The short duration of certification is to keep you in practice. It's not as if most people use it all that often.

[John @ Jun 8th 2008 2:59PM]

You apparently have no idea what you're talking about. Certification expiration is because it is assumed that as you do not routinely perform CPR, you will not remember it perfectly without at least annual retraining.

While CPR protocols do change (the Red Cross is not the only organization that has a CPR protocol - ILCOR, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation also maintains a protocol), changes are minor and relatively infrequent. I have had Red Cross certification as well as Ellis & Associates (another organization that deals with lifeguard protocol) and changes are not on the actual methodology but instead on nuances to increase effectiveness - for instance, a recent change with the Red Cross involved when the primary rescuer calls for a position change during two-rescuer CPR, which is something that if you're in a scenario where you would use this is completely irrelevant.

Finally, not checking for a pulse has nothing to do with a heart attack. You will not give someone a heart attack by checking their pulse, and if they have no pulse in the first place you'd be hard pressed to give them a heart attack. CPR for professional rescuers (using the Red Cross' cert) still calls for checking the victim's pulse. This is not emphasized in non-professional certification because there is a considerable risk that a layperson will not be able to correctly check a pulse, or even mistakenly think that there is one.

Personally, given the effectiveness of CPR to save someone without defibrillation is about 4%, I think this is rather useless, but if it's the best you can do, why not.

[Wwhat @ Jun 9th 2008 8:24AM]

What would be the problem with a person mistakenly thinking there is a pulse? the only thing that goes wrong then is that the person does not give CPR, which is a lot better than giving CPR when the person has a regular pulse and isn't having a heartattack I'm guessing.
Better to have a person accidentally die because no expert was present than having a person with a healthy heart being messed up leaving the person who gave the CPR with guilt and a lawsuit on his/her ass.
Seems to me checking is a #1 priority.

[Justin42 @ Jun 8th 2008 1:58PM]

I've seen a similar concept built into a very expensive first aid kit.
http://www.intelligentfirstaid.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/2

It also talked you though other first-aid...err... uses.

Yes, knowing what your doing is best, but this is better then having someone pause to try to read instructions off a card. Anyway, a good emergency kit should have a flashlight anyway.

[W. Park @ Jun 8th 2008 2:32PM]

this is the beginning of new devices that will substitute for experts. with wikipedia substituting for knowledge, could doctors, lawyers, and counselors in a doo-dad be far behind?

[Justin42 @ Jun 8th 2008 3:49PM]

The first aid kit that anyone can edit?

[lagmastac @ Jun 18th 2008 8:39PM]

Ah, yes..... but will it blend?

[CPFReviews.com @ Jun 9th 2008 3:29AM]

if you look at the utility, some one's life can be saved.