Is Having 1 AED Defibrillator Enough?

AED Defibrillator

A.E.D. stands for Automated External Defibrillator.  These are the small, easy-to-use devices designed for public use to save the life of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest death.  Those “in the know” about AEDs have learned that Cardiac Arrest is different from a common heart attack and that about 1,000 people die each day from SCA in the USA.

Organizations like businesses, schools, churches, & government entities have been investing in this remarkable safety equipment for decades.  The adoption of AEDs varies radically because legislation has been slow to mandate AEDs and misperceptions persist about AEDs and the laws that govern implementation.

If your organization is not AED-equipped we’d urge you to begin discussion with your safety, risk management, or human resources team.

For those who were early to adopt AEDs that’s certainly great but we would encourage you to consider these three facts:

  1. Under-deployment of AEDs can expose an organization to legal risk. An example of this might be having AEDs at headquarters but not at other locations.
  2. AED technology is everchanging and having 10-year or 15-year old devices might mean your life-saving devices are discontinued or considered end-of-life by the AED manufacturer or FDA.
  3. Maintaining AEDs for readiness is a requirement of State Good Samaritan Laws. AEDs should be checked at least one per month and the electrode pads and batteries must be replaced over time.

 

At AED One-Stop Shop we commonly encounter customers who are actively seeking to ensure they’ve got a good AED program.  This often means checking their devices for age and recalls and helping them with AED program management and CPR/AED training.  Today this means using software to manage monthly AED equipment checks or even utilizing AEDs with Wi-Fi or cellular technology to help automate readiness.  CPR classes are a surefire way to ensure that employees aren’t hesitant to use the AEDs in an emergency.