Written by Blaire Czarniecki
Customer Service Director
Fact checked by Phillip Woods, BA, NREMT-P, FP-C
Blaire attended the University of Tennessee where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology- Child and Family Studies. She has been in the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) industry for over eight years and is the Director of Customer Service for Coro Medical. Blaire is also an American Red Cross-certified CPR/AED/First Aid Instructor, highly trained by each manufacturer on their specific AEDs, and knowledgeable regarding ALL State AED regulations and legislation.
“I know that every day I come to work, I am playing a part in saving someone’s life. I am passionate about these devices and am always looking for new and innovative ways to spread awareness and knowledge about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). I look forward to the day when everywhere I go, I will see an AED—when SCA will no longer take any lives.”
Last updated January 28, 2020
After a run of seventeen years, Stryker Medical is putting the LIFEPAK CR+ and LIFEPAK Express “out to pasture.” These AEDs have been the workhorses of Physio-Controls public access AEDs since replacing the LIFEPAK 500, one of the most successful AEDs ever, in the early 2000s. The LIFEPAK CR+ and Express were small, light-weight and packed a powerful 360-Joule punch.
With Physio-Control’s help, King County (Seattle) became one of the safest communities on the planet when it came to placing AEDs, promoting the importance of CPR and early defibrillation and, ultimately, preventing deaths due to out-of-hospital SCA (sudden cardiac arrest).
The LIFEPAK CR+ will continue to be supported through 2028 with CHARGE PAK, pads, lids and other accessories.
The LIFEPAK CR+ and LIFEPAK Express will be replaced by the LIFEPAK CR2 and LIFEPAK CR2 USB. The feature-rich LIFEPAK CR2 will have dual language capability, CPR coaching, escalating energy to 360J, wifi connectivity and more, all in an easy to operate AED. The LIFEPAK CR2 USB will be a less expensive version with fewer features; namely dual language and wifi connectivity.
The LIFEPAK CR2’s wifi connectivity is a BIG step for the AED industry. Many states mandate that AEDs must be accompanied with a management program that ensures the AED remains in ready status in case of an emergency. The CR2 communicates with Stryker’s proprietary LIFENET software regularly and notifies the proper individuals responsible for AED maintenance via email if there is any issue with the device.
Please review the notification from Stryker here and let us know if you have any questions: [email protected].