HeartStart FAQS

Welcome to our FAQ section, where we’ve compiled answers to the most commonly asked questions about our products, services, and policies.

How do I set up a new Philips HeartStart Onsite or Home device for use?

Setting up a new Philips HeartStart Onsite or Home device is simple and quick. Simply open the red carry case and lift out the Philips HeartStart with its wrap-around card. Then follow the instructions on the card.  Pull out the red tag.

  1. Pull the red tab to start the automatic battery self-test. The defibrillator will tell you it is testing.
  2. Press the flashing orange Shock button when the voice tells you to. (No shock will be given.)
  3. Wait about one minute. When the Philips HeartStart passes the self-test, the defibrillator turns off and the green Ready light starts blinking to show that the defibrillator is in standby mode and ready for use. Tear the card along the line at the bottom and remove it. Then reinstall the defibrillator in its carry case.

Yes, as long as a battery is installed, the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices automatically test itself every day and alerts you if it finds a problem. The defibrillator also runs a pads self-test each time a pads cartridge is inserted.

You can also test the defibrillator at any time by removing the battery for five seconds then reinstalling it. The Philips HeartStart defibrillator will automatically initiate a self-test.  This test takes about one minute. Because the battery insertion self-test is very detailed and uses battery power, running it more often than necessary will drain the battery prematurely. It is recommended that you run the battery insertion self-test only:

  • when the defibrillator is first put into service
  • after the defibrillator is used to treat a patient
  • when the battery is replaced
  • when the defibrillator may have been damaged

If you need to use the defibrillator in an emergency while you are running a battery self-test, pull the Philips HeartStart SMART Pads cartridge handle to stop the test and to turn on the Philips HeartStart defibrillator for use.

There is no difference between the Philips HeartStart Onsite and the Philips HeartStart Home devices.  The ECG pads cartridge and Philips HeartStart M5070A batteries are compatible for both types of devices.

Yes, the configuration for the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices can be changed.  These devices come with factory default configuration designed to meet the needs of most users.  This configuration can only be changed by an authorized person using Philips HeartStart Configure software. This software is for use by trained personnel.  Information about Philips HeartStart data management products are available online at the Philips HeartStart website.

These specifications are noted in the Philips HeartStart Owner’s Manual for the defibrillator.  The standby temperatures assume that a battery is installed and the unit is stored with ECG pads. When the defibrillator and accessories are exposed to environments outside the recommended temperature and humidity ranges, their performance can be affected.

The Philips HeartStart’s green Ready light is your guide to knowing if the defibrillator is ready for use.

  • If the Ready light is blinking: The defibrillator has passed the battery

insertion self-test and the last periodic self-test and is therefore ready for use.

  • If the Ready light is solid: The defibrillator is in use or running a self-test.
  • If the Ready light is off, the defibrillator is emitting a series of single chirps,

and the i-button is flashing: A self-test error has occurred, there is a problem with the pads or the battery power is low. Press the i-button for instructions.

  • If the Ready light is off, and the defibrillator is emitting a series of triple chirps, please reach out to Philips’ customer service team. Contact details can be found in your AED’s Instructions For Use or Owner’s Manual, or on the Philips AED Support and Service website.
  • If the Ready light is off but the defibrillator is not chirping and the i-button is not flashing: there is no battery inserted, the battery is depleted, or the defibrillator needs repair. Insert/replace battery and run the self-test. As long as the defibrillator passes the self-test, you can be assured it is ready for use.

The user should briefly press the blue i-button to hear a possible reason for the alert tones.  Then, perform any recommended action as instructed by the defibrillator; for example, if instructed by the defibrillator, replace the battery or the pads cartridge.


Other possible reasons and suggested actions when the AED emits single-chirp tones are:

  • The defibrillator may have been turned off without a pads cartridge installed, or the installed pads cartridge may not have its hard cover in place.
    • To resolve: Make sure the pads cartridge is properly installed with the hard cover in place.
  • The Practice (Training) pads cartridge has been left in the defibrillator.
    • To resolve: Remove the Practice (Training) pads cartridge and replace with a Philips HeartStart Adult SMART Pads (part number M5071A) or Philips HeartStart Infant/Child SMART Pads (part number M5072A)
  • The defibrillator has been stored outside the recommended temperature range.
    • To resolve: Keep the defibrillator within the recommended temperature range as noted in the Philips HeartStart User’s Manual (Instructions for Use).
  • The defibrillator has detected an error during self-test or cannot perform a self-test.
    • To resolve: If replacing the ECG pads cartridge and the battery does not resolve the issue, please reach out to Philips’ customer service team. Contact details can be found in your AED’s Instructions For Use or Owner’s Manual, or on the Philips AED Support and Service website.

The Philips HeartStart defibrillator is very simple to maintain. The defibrillator performs a self-test every day. In addition, a battery insertion self-test is run whenever a battery is installed in the device. The defibrillator’s extensive automatic self-test features eliminate the need for any manual calibration. The Philips HeartStart has no user serviceable parts.

All Philips HeartStart devices sold by Amazon.com are new devices.

All Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home are semi-automatic defibrillators. 

No, the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices do not perform an auto-update for software upgrades.

Philips provides an 8-year warranty for new Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices in the United States. However, for Amazon customers, device returns and exchanges will be initiated only for out-of-box issues or device failures within the warranty period.

No, the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices use a 9VDC, 4.2Ah, lithium manganese dioxide disposable non-rechargeable battery.  A battery charger is not required.

No, a second (spare) battery is not included with any Philips HeartStart device.  Additional batteries may be purchased separately.

Yes, the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices can be purchased in a variety of languages.  Please contact Philips for a list of available languages.  You may reach out to Philips’ customer service team. Contact details can be found in your AED’s Instructions For Use or Owner’s Manual, or on the Philips AED Support and Service website.

No, the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices cannot be updated to a different language after the point-of-sale.

No, the pocket mask is only available for Value Packages with the following ASINs: B00KSAL7LS and B003U9L78W.

Please refer to your local regulations for information.

Please refer to the product detail page in Amazon.com for information.

Yes, the Philips HeartStart devices have audio capability.

Yes, the Philips HeartStart Value Pack includes Philips HeartStart Adult SMART Pads (part number M5071A).  Please refer to the product detail page in Amazon.com for more information. 

The Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices use a special Infant/Child SMART Pads Cartridge (M5072A) for treating children under 55 pounds (25 kg) or less than 8 years old. If you may need to defibrillate an infant or a child in this age/weight range, it is recommended that you order the Infant/Child Pads Cartridge, available separately.

No, the Philips HeartStart automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are designed specifically for use by the first people responding to an emergency. They are reliable, easy to use, and virtually maintenance free. The design allows these AEDs to be used by people with no medical training in places where defibrillators have not traditionally been used. In fact, the HeartStart Home was the first AED cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale without a prescription.

No, the Philips HeartStart will deliver a shock only when the Shock Button is pressed and the defibrillator’s algorithm software determined that the patient’s ECG shows a shockable rhythm.  An audible message will instruct the user to press the Shock Button when the defibrillator determines that a shockable ECG rhythm is present.

Yes, the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices have a Training Mode.  This mode can only be accessed when Practice (Training) pads are installed onto the defibrillator.

Any use of the Philips AED for training will directly reduce the amount of energy left in the battery to power the unit and will result in a reduction of the battery life. It is recommended that the HeartStart Trainer M4085A be used for training. It is powered by four standard AA alkaline batteries.

Yes, SMART Biphasic is the patented waveform used by all Philips HeartStart AED devices. It is an impedance-compensating, low energy (<200 J), low capacitance (100 μF), biphasic truncated exponential (BTE) waveform that delivers a fixed energy of 150 J for defibrillation. Philips was the first company to develop a biphasic waveform for use in Philips HeartStart AED devices.

No, there are no monthly or annual fees associated with owning the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home device.

No, there are no requirements for certified training or maintenance for the Philips HeartStart AED devices.  The Philips HeartStart M5070A battery should last approximately 4 years and the ECG pads expire in 2 years.

No, the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices do not ship with a tutorial CD.

Yes, the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices comply with the latest AHA Guidelines.

If you may need to defibrillate an infant or a child under 55 pounds (25 kg) or 8 years old with a Philips HeartStart Defibrillator, it is recommended that you order the Infant/Child Pads Cartridge (M5072A), available separately. When the Infant/Child Pads Cartridge is installed in the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home, the device automatically reduces the defibrillation energy to 50 joules and, if optional CPR Coaching is selected, provides coaching appropriate for infants and children.

Yes, the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices provide clear, calm, audible prompts that guide the user through the process of using the device. 

In its default configuration, the Philips HeartStart defibrillators provide basic verbal instructions for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including hand placement, rescue breathing, compression depth and timing, provided by the Philips HeartStart when the flashing blue i-button is pressed during the first 30 seconds of a patient care pause. If the Infant/Child Pads Cartridge is inserted in the Philips HeartStart, the CPR Coaching provided will be for infant/child CPR

No, the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices can be used for multiple patients.

Yes, the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices can be used on all ages of patients.  The appropriate type of ECG pads cartridge should be installed to ensure that the proper energy charge is delivered to the patient.

Each HeartStart AED is shipped with one Adult SMART Pads Cartridge M5071A, containing one set of adhesive defibrillation pads. The Philips HeartStart Adult SMART Pads (part number M5071A) are intended for any patient eight years or older, or weighing a minimum of 55 pounds (25 kilograms).

The HeartStart AED uses a special Infant/Child SMART Pads Cartridge (M3872A) for treating children under 55 pounds (25 kg) or less than 8 years old. If you may need to defibrillate an infant or a child in this age/weight range, it is recommended that you order the Infant/Child Pads Cartridge (part number M5072A), available separately.

The Philips HeartStart AED Owner’s Manual (Instructions for Use) specifies the recommended temperature range for the use of the Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home devices.

The Philips HeartStart Onsite and Home Owner’s Manuals (Instructions for Use) are provided in the appropriate language with the purchase of the Philips HeartStart AED.  You may also visit the Philips AED Support and Service website to access the Philips HeartStart Owner’s Manuals, Technical Reference Manuals, Product Notices, AED accessories information, and demo videos on the use of the Philips HeartStart AED devices.

Each HeartStart AED is shipped with one Adult SMART Pads Cartridge M5071A, containing one set of adhesive defibrillation pads. Additional pads for adult or pediatric use may be purchased separately.