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AED Maintenance Before and After a Cardiac Emergency

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are medical devices designed to be used by untrained bystanders to restart the heart of someone suffering from a cardiac arrest. AEDs are durable pieces of equipment, but still need routine maintenance checks to ensure they are in working order. Regular inspections prevent mishaps and ensure AED readiness in the event of an emergency.

But what does regular maintenance look like? What happens if the AED is used for a cardiac arrest and what should be done to return the AED to readiness?

Standard AED Maintenance Before Use

There are several different AED manufacturers and models, but all devices operate in relatively the same manner. It is important to be familiar with your AED and follow any manufacturer specific recommendations for servicing and testing your AED.

The following should be stored attached to, or along with, the AED:

As a general recommendation, routine service checks and tests should be performed on your AED every 30 days. This involves checking the dates on the pads and batteries, the condition of the AED and its enclosure, confirming the response kit is attached, as well as watching for the AEDs readiness indicator. 

This should be documented on an AED inspection tag which can be provided for free by AED Team, or in an AED management program like AED365. If any errors, malfunctions, or expired/expiring dates are identified during the test, reorder replacement parts right away.

Videos on how to inspect your particular device can be found here.

AED Use During an Emergency

If a cardiac emergency occurs, bystanders should call 911, initiate CPR, and send someone to retrieve and utilize an AED. Continue performing CPR until the patient is resuscitated or until emergency medical services (EMS) arrives. Always keep the AED turned on and keep the pads on the victim until medical professionals take over the scene. Emergency personnel will ask questions to better understand the situation and condition the victim is in. Questions might include:

  • When did the victim collapse?
  • How long has CPR been performed?
  • How many shocks were distributed by the AED?
  • How did the victim respond to the shocks?
  • What were the environmental conditions and any delays or obstacles?

Providing EMS with accurate information will help reduce delays for critical care. To support an organized transition, crowd control may be needed to clear access routes to keep the scene safe. As the victim is being transported, it is not uncommon for EMS to take the AED with them to preserve the data for review. Information such as heart rhythms, timestamps, and shock history can help medical professionals understand how the victim responded to the AED’s treatment.

Putting an AED Back in Service

Generally, the facility where the AED originated should contact the hospital’s EMS liaison or supervisor to arrange a pickup. It can be retrieved once the hospital has downloaded the necessary data. The AED is a battery powered electronic device that uses energy when it turns on, speaks, and delivers shocks to the victim’s heart during a cardiac arrest. It is essential to check the condition of the AED device after its use.

Inspect Condition of Items

Assess the condition of the AED unit, looking for any signs of damage to the device itself.

Replace Items Used

Any items used during the resuscitation attempt, including AED electrode pads, gloves, non-rechargeable batteries, razor, nitrile gloves, cleansing wipes, and breathing barrier devices must be replaced.

The cables that connect to the electrode pads directly to the AED unit should be checked for any signs of damage or fraying. If so, replace any damaged cables immediately. 

Some AEDs do contain a battery pack that can be recharged after use. However, these require more diligent monitoring and maintenance. They can last 2-3 years, depending how often they are used and recharged. It is essential to check the specific AED manual on how long rechargeable batteries are expected to last.

After replacing or recharging batteries, be sure to check the AEDs readiness indicator and battery level, if available.

Most AED batteries are not rechargeable and must be replaced to ensure that there is enough charge for future use. 

Adult and pediatric electrode pads are single use and must be replaced.

Manufacturer’s AED Maintenance Recommendations

Consult the AED’s operational manual included with the device. This manual will provide specific recommendations for maintenance and testing requirements that may be exclusive to the specific model.

If an AED is used to save a life, some manufacturers have programs to help replace used pads and batteries for free! There are also general corporate grants for nonprofits or general education institutions that can assist with funding AED programs. 

Heartbeat Guardian is AED Team’s initiative to give back to communities. If an AED was deployed from one of our enclosures in order to save someone’s life, AED Team will donate another enclosure for the community!

Mental Health Considerations 

Witnessing or participating in a resuscitation effort is a traumatic experience, so it is good practice to monitor mental health and potentially have a debriefing session with staff after responding to a cardiac arrest emergency. 

Most people do not anticipate seeing someone collapse while going about their everyday routine. Many people who save a life will take ownership of the outcome, whether the person lives or dies.

It is important to remember that bystanders are not responsible for the outcome, only the actions in the moment.

Focusing on the responsibilities after using an AED is essential to ensure it remains operational for future emergencies. It is important to replace any used or expired items promptly to prevent delays when it is needed. Adhering to these best practices and the manufacturer’s guidelines will leave you more confident in the event of an emergency when the AED is used to save a life.