How to Maintain Your AED

30 November 2020

- 5 mins read

With a dismal survival rate of 25.9%, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest* (OHCA) is a serious public health issue that we must face in Singapore.

^{*Witnessed and shockable cardiac arrest cases only}

OHCA can happen without warning to anyone at any time, regardless of age or fitness.

When it hits, the victim’s heart stops beating and blood flow to the brain ceases. Death can happen in minutes. But the chances of survival increase dramatically if the victim receives immediate CPR and early defibrillation.

Ok… what does this have to do with maintaining an AED?

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is the only device that can restore a victim’s heart rhythm by delivering a shock to the heart.

Coupled with CPR, the early use of an AED can produce a survival rate of as high as 74%!

This is why it is important for public and industrial spaces to be equipped with AEDs.

But just installing AEDs is not enough. You need to ensure that the AEDs are always in optimal working condition.

This applies to you whether you are responsible for workplace health and safety, or if you are simply a responsible citizen in your neighbourhood.

It’s ok, I’m paying for annual maintenance so my AED is just fine.

Are you sure?

What if your AED becomes unusable before the annual maintenance check?

Would you know if it did?

Most maintenance vendors only inspect your AED units once a year, depending on the contract you have with them.

It is commonly taken for granted that AEDs will continue to work until the next scheduled maintenance visit.

However, there have been times when annual verification checks by the Save-A-Life team revealed expired batteries, expired AED pads and even missing AEDs that were not in their place.

Thank goodness there had been no unexpected cases of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) at these premises up until the annual checks. But what if there had been one?

It is recommended to do a quarterly check internally to ensure that your AED is in working condition.

So how do I check if my AED is still functioning well?

Based on the most common AED brands and models used in Singapore, here is a simple guide to help you ensure that your AED is always rescue-ready.

Check if the AED machine is in working condition. Also check on its battery and pads expiry dates.

Some brands and models have all the status and expiry information displayed on the outside, like the ZOLL AED Plus. Others, like the Samaritan PAD 500P or IPAD NF1200 require you to get hands-on to check on its health.

Brand: Zoll Model: AED Plus
Status Indicator: Green tick = working Any others: Contact your AED vendor	PAD & Battery Expiry Date:
Brand: HTM Medico Model: Samaritan PAD 500P/300P/350P
Status Indicator: Green blinking light = working Any others: Contact your AED vendor	PAD & Battery Expiry Date:
Serial Number:
Brand: CU Medical Systems Model: IPAD NF1200
Status Indicator: Green blinking light = working Any others: Contact your AED vendor	PAD Expiry Date:
Battery Expiry Date: 5 years from installation. For example, If the battery is installed in 1/11/2018, the expiry date will be 1/11/2023.

Check on the basic accessories kit

This is the part of an AED unit that often goes unnoticed and neglected.

Every AED unit comes with a basic accessories kit that is essential for use during a sudden cardiac emergency. Replace these items if they have been used or show signs of wear and tear.

Items included in AED kit

My AED is out of service, what can I do?

If your AED is out of service due to usage or expired parts:
- Remove the AED from its place and contact your AED vendor.
- Display signage at AED cabinet/location directing users to the next available AED nearby.
  
  Even better— Use the myResponder app to access the live national registry of publicly accessible AEDs for the most current location information.
  
  If your out-of-service AED is registered with R-AEDi, notify us via email at r-aedi@heart.org.sg so that the AED can be temporarily de-listed from the myResponder app.
  
  Doing so will ensure accuracy of the live AED registry and shave off the waiting time for an OHCA victim to get bystander defibrillation, which increases chances of survival.

Resources to help you

Did you know that R-AEDi provides AED owners with free annual checks on their AEDs? There are also free email reminders on the upcoming expiry dates of your AED pads and battery so that you can stay prepared for any OHCA emergency.

Registered owners can also claim subsidies of up to $400* for AED pads/batteries replacements.

_{*Terms & Conditions apply}

Want to learn more and download the myResponder app? Click here and start saving lives today!