Looking for an AED? Then you’ll want to choose the model that best fits your situation. Fortunately, at Pulse4all we offer two reliable models: the Philips HS1 and the Philips FRx. But which one is most suitable for you? Don’t worry, this article explains the key differences so you can easily make the right choice.

The HS1 is an affordable, user-friendly AED designed specifically for heated indoor locations.
The FRx is more robust and better suited for child resuscitation, making it the best choice for outdoor locations, vehicles, and environments with many young children.

The choice: where will the AED be placed?

The first and most important question is: where do you want to store the AED?

This is not about where you’ll use the AED. You can take either AED outside in an emergency, but the Philips HS1 should not be stored outdoors or in a car day and night. Below, we discuss several possible storage locations and explain which AED is best suited for each.

The Philips HS1: the best choice for indoor locations

Do you want to place the AED at home, in an office, or in a shop? Or in another heated indoor location? Then, in most cases, the Philips HS1 is the best choice.

Why?

This model is very user-friendly and reliable, and it’s also the most affordable option. You can store the HS1 in a location where the temperature stays between 10 and 43 °C. In a heated indoor space, this won’t be a problem.

The Philips FRx: the best choice for tougher conditions

In a car or on a boat

If you want to store the AED in a car or on a boat, we recommend the Philips FRx.

Why?

The Philips FRx is by far the most suitable for placement in a vehicle. The FRx is much more resistant to extreme temperatures than the HS1.

The HS1 must be stored in a location where the temperature stays between 10 and 43 °C, while the FRx can handle temperatures between 0 and 50 °C.

This means the HS1 is more likely to malfunction if stored in a vehicle, as in winter it can easily get colder than 10 °C.

Outdoors or on an industrial site

Here too, the Philips FRx is the best choice.

Why?

The FRx is designed for tougher conditions: it is protected against dust and water jets and can withstand drops of up to 1.2 meters. The HS1 is much less resistant to dust and water. Want to learn more about the dust and water resistance of an AED? Click here. 

Always place the FRx outdoors in a heated outdoor cabinet to prevent malfunctions. At Pulse4all, a heated outdoor cabinet is not included with the subscription.

The Philips FRx: the right choice for primary schools and daycare centers

For locations where many young children are present, we recommend the Philips FRx.

Why?

If you need to use an AED on a child under eight years old, the Resuscitation Council UK advises using an AED with child-specific features whenever possible.

Both AEDs can be adapted for child resuscitation, but the FRx has a major advantage: it comes standard with an infant and child key. When you use this key, the AED automatically switches to a shock level suitable for children.

This is much faster and easier than with the HS1, which requires separate child electrodes. These electrodes are not included in our subscription.

Want to learn more about child resuscitation? Check out this article.

The Philips HS1 and Philips FRx side by side

AED	Philips HS1	Philips FRx
Storage location	In a heated indoor location.	Indoors, in a vehicle, or outdoors in a heated outdoor cabinet.
Suitable for child resuscitation	Yes, with separate child electrodes. Less quick and easy to use.	Yes, includes infant and child key. Quick and easy to use.
Robustness	Some protection against water, but less suitable for very dusty or wet environments (e.g., construction site or swimming pool).	Very robust. Suitable for dusty and wet environments.

Conclusion

Both the Philips HS1 and Philips FRx are reliable and user-friendly AEDs. The best choice depends on your specific situation. Having the right AED in the right place makes a crucial difference in heart safety.

Here’s a summary of the best choice for each situation:

• Choose the HS1 if you will store the AED in a heated indoor location.
• Choose the FRx if the AED will be placed in a vehicle, outdoors, in a very wet or dusty location, or in a place with many children.

We hope this article has made your decision easier. Still need advice? Feel free to contact us. Or want to learn more about the options beyond our subscription? Check out this article.