A defibrillator and method for storing selected audio data during treatment of a patient are disclosed. The defibrillator includes a charge storage unit for storing an electrical charge and a discharge apparatus coupled to the charge storage unit for delivering the electrical charge to a patient. In addition, a sensor is provided for sensing electrocardiogram (ECG) data of the patient. The defibrillator further includes a memory and a data processor coupled both to the sensor and to the memory. The data processor stores ECG data sensed from the patient within the memory. The defibrillator also has an audio recorder, wherein the audio recorder detects and records audio data for a selected time period in response to detection of a selected event such that audio data is recorded only for selected time periods during the operation of the defibrillator. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the defibrillator also includes an input device coupled to the data processor. In this embodiment, the audio recorder stores audio data for a selected time period in response to a manipulation of the input device.