Is it time to replace your AED?

by admin | Aug 12, 2022 | AED Installation & Maintenance, Community & Workplace Safety, Defibrillator News & Updates, Defibrillators, Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)

Your automated external defibrillator (AED) is one of the most important pieces of equipment in your practice. In a cardiac emergency it could help you save a life. Although not everyone can be saved from sudden cardiac arrest, studies show that early defibrillation can dramatically improve survival rates. As equipment matures and technology advances, it is important to evaluate the age and capabilities of your AEDs to determine if it is time for a replacement. We recommend considering a few things outlined below.

Age of Device

Various external agencies provide advice regarding the useful life of medical equipment. For example, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) publishes guidelines for common categories of medical equipment for depreciation purposes and lists the effective life of an AED as eight years (see Taxation Ruling TR 2021/3). Some state health authorities have developed similar useful life guidance using evidence-based review.

AEDs operate using replaceable parts. Typically, if the parts are still being manufactured, you can maintain and repair an AED without needing to replace the entire unit. However, manufacturers may discontinue products when parts may become obsolete and are no longer available for service and repairs. In addition, if your warranty is expired, it can become cost-prohibitive to maintain the unit.

When you decide it’s time to replace your AEDs, the team at AED will explain the warranty period of your new devices and the expiry dates for the consumables like batteries and pads. This helps calculate overall cost of ownership and can be an indicator of quality.

Technology Improvements

Biphasic waveforms

Gentle, yet effective, biphasic waveforms are now the standard of care. It has been proven that biphasic waveforms are more effective than monophasic waveforms in converting chaotic heart rhythms to an organized heart rhythm. Because of the effectiveness of biphasic waveforms, defibrillators with monophasic waveforms are no longer manufactured.

Escalating energy

The ability to escalate energy can improve shock success when lower energy shocks fail. This gives those difficult-to-defibrillate patients a better chance of survival. Currently, Lifepak is the only manufacturer that escalates energy to 360J, an energy level used by many paramedics.

A defibrillator purchase is an investment that lasts years. Choosing an AED with full energy provides the flexibility to deliver the dose your patient needs as guidelines and protocols evolve to reflect new understanding and research.

Battery improvements

Battery technology has improved significantly in recent years. Older units often require large, bulky batteries that are expensive to replace. Batteries in current AEDs are typically small and lightweight, carry a higher capacity, and are less expensive on a per year basis.

Usability Improvements

Fully automatic shock

While all AEDs are designed to be user-friendly, fully automatic AEDs make it even easier for a responder to help a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. A fully automatic AED is designed to give a shock automatically, if needed, without the user having to push a button to deliver that shock. The device communicates clear, calm, step-by-step instructions that let responders know when a victim is about to be shocked. Fully automatic models are designed to help responders who may hesitate to push the shock button.

Clear voice prompts and step-by-step instructions

Continual improvements in the quality and clarity of voice prompts and instructions are helping to better guide responders in deploying the AED device and delivering CPR appropriately.

Visual indicators and voice prompt updates have also been added to help instruct the responder in placing the electrode pads appropriately. The simple, step-by-step instructions are continually reviewed and updated based on user feedback.

Ease of maintenance

To increase readiness assurance, today’s AEDs have indicators that notify you when the electrode pads are past the Use By date and when the battery requires replacement. AED Authority has a program that monitors your AEDs and advises you of any expiration dates that are approaching. minimising the maintenance burden and helping to ensure your units will always be supplied and ready for use.

If you’re concerned that your AED might be reaching the end of its useful life, or would like to know more about the latest devices, reach out to the team at AED Authority.

How to set up an AED program

by admin | May 11, 2022 | AED Installation & Maintenance, Community & Workplace Safety, Defibrillator News & Updates, Defibrillators, Guides & Resources

Fitting out your office or place of work with a defibrillator is a great decision that means you’re already on your way to help saving a life. Having an AED on site means you are better prepared to assist someone suffering a cardiac arrest and are investing in the protection of those around you. The purchase of an AED will enhance the first aid capabilities and emergency responses of individuals and organisations of all types. The size and layout of your physical environment will determine the placement of these lifesaving devices, and how many you need to ensure your nearest defibrillator is no more than 90 seconds away.

A complete AED program includes a site assessment to determine the risk of SCA among workers, customers, and other visitors to your site; and to identify possible locations for AEDs. The most important consideration is the physical size of the work area, which determines the “drop-to-shock” timeframe to how long it takes to get an AED to the victim of SCA. The goal is to deliver defibrillation within three to five minutes of the onset of SCA.

Mapping out the facility

AEDs are typically located in lobbies, main hallways, large meeting rooms, and near restrooms. It’s best to avoid remote offices or crowded storage rooms. To assess your workplace and determine the best placement options, start from where you think you would place a device and map how far you can get in 90 seconds in all directions. This is the effective reach of your AED.

For small workplaces, one AED will be sufficient, while large, spread-out facilities could require several devices.

Injury potential

Once the various routes and distances within a building have been timed and marked on the floor plan, the next step in the risk assessment is identifying potential hazards. Understanding both the type and likelihood of possible injuries associated with different work areas within the building can help determine AED placement in the facility. Add these to your floor plan.

A completed AED site assessment provides much of the information you need for a comprehensive and customised AED program.

Putting it all together

Taking all the risk and distance factors into consideration, plan the number of AED devices needed and where they will be installed to reach an SCA sufferer within 3 minutes of collapse. If your site requires multiple AEDs, we recommended you start AED placement nearest to the highest risk areas then work outwards, always aiming for three minutes or less between AEDs. If the number of AED devices available for installation is limited but you want optimum coverage, we recommended that the AED is located not more than 90 seconds from the highest risk areas and especially those high-risk areas that are also high traffic. All AEDs should be strategically placed, highly visible, in common areas, and well signed.

Completing and returning our AED site assessment form provides us with crucial information. Our expert team use it to assess your organisation’s needs and provide you with the right advice on implementing an effective AED program.