For Patients

Daily Life with LifeVest

When should I wear LifeVest?

Sudden cardiac death can occur without warning. LifeVest is designed to detect certain life-threatening rapid heart rhythms and, if needed, automatically deliver a treatment shock to save your life. No matter where you are or the time of day, the LifeVest WCD can provide sudden cardiac death (SCD) protection when worn as directed.

LifeVest does not require the assistance of another person or emergency personnel for it to work. It is designed to protect you even when you are alone or asleep.

It is critical that you wear the LifeVest WCD at all times – including while you sleep.

“Definitely wear it, every moment of every day, because you just don’t know that sudden cardiac arrest is going to happen”

Bobbi , 34 years old

What can I do while I’m wearing the LifeVest WCD?

With LifeVest, you can continue to do many of the things you enjoy, like spending time with family and friends, without worrying about your risk of SCD.

Wear LifeVest during all normal daily activities.

At restaurants, your place of worship, when doing chores, and even to your doctor’s appointment.

Only remove LifeVest for a short shower or bath.

This should only be done when someone is home with you, if possible.

Avoid high vibration environments.

In these situations, like riding a motorcycle or lawn mower, be extra attentive to ensure you are able to respond to any LifeVest alerts.

How do I care for my LifeVest WCD?

It is important to care for your LifeVest WCD so that it can protect you if you need it. Follow these steps to ensure you are taking good care of your LifeVest WCD on a daily basis.

Change your battery every day

LifeVest comes with two batteries. While you're using one, the other should be charging. Make changing and charging the battery part of your daily routine.

Wash your garment every 1-2 days

DO NOT use chlorine bleach or bleach alternatives, fabric softeners, anti-static sprays, or any detergent that contain these additives.

DO NOT wash the electrode belt

What do the alerts mean?

One of the key features of LifeVest is the series of alerts and voice prompts that keep you informed about what the device is doing. These alerts let you know that the LifeVest WCD is working to protect you.

LifeVest has three types of alerts: Vibrations, gongs, and sirens.

Vibration

Felt on your back each time the battery is changed.

Indicates the beginning of the LifeVest WCD treatment sequence when a life-threatening rapid heartbeat is detected.

Gong

A low-pitched sound that repeats once every second. Accompanied by a message on the monitor.

Read the message on the monitor screen to determwhat you need to do.

Siren

Two-toned siren starts low, but increases in volume as the treatment sequence advances.

Indicates that the LifeVest WCD may have detected a dangerously fast heartbeat.

Important information about wearing LifeVest

LifeVest does not treat all heart conditions, such as a dangerously slow heart rate or a complete stoppage of the heart, which are not treatable by a defibrillation shock.
LifeVest is designed to continuously monitor the patient’s heart rhythm, provide treatment if needed and transmit patient health data after it is downloaded from the device. While this information may be used by your physician to provide you with medical care, please know that no one is reviewing this data in real time.
If you believe that the patient is experiencing a medical emergency, please call emergency services.
Loud or high-vibration environments can make it difficult to hear an alert. Patients who find themselves in these types of environments or situations should be extra attentive to the LifeVest WCD to ensure that they are able to respond to any alerts. For example, riding a motorcycle or using some lawn mowers may cause vibrations and make it difficult to hear an alert, which may result in an inappropriate treatment.

We’re here to help.

ZOLL has supported more than one million patients like you for over 20 years. For 24/7 phone support, call 1-800-543-3267. You can also email LifeVest.Info@zoll.com or visit our support page to send us your question.

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Daily life with LifeVest