Replacing A Not So Life-Saving AED

If the AED unit is older than 10 years, it may be time to trade-in your old unit for a device you can be sure will perform properly when needed. 7th grader Nate Wick of Sioux Falls is thankful that the school AED his basketball coaches used on him had been up to date to deliver the shock that saved his life.

There are three dates that you should be aware of on an AED. First, check that the AED unit itself is less than 10 years old by looking on the back of the device for the date (year) of manufacture. Second, check the battery in the unit. Depending on the type of battery, the AED battery will last for 2-5 years. Third, check the expiration date on the electrode pads, which are normally visible through a window on the AED. Pads generally have an expiration date of 2 years.

If you find an accessory expiration date that has passed, the pads which are meant to send a life-saving electrical shock are probably too dry to conduct electricity and the battery may not have enough power to generate a shock or even turn the AED unit on. In a Sudden Cardiac Arrest emergency, you certainly do not want to discover that the AED has not been properly maintained. While the consequences of a failed AED could be fatal for the SCA victim, issues of liability could also arise for the facility.

AEDs such as the FirstSave by Cardiac Science or the Welch Allyn AED 10 and 20 are too old to be supported by the manufacturer. This means that new pads and batteries are no longer produced to replace expired or used accessories. If your AED unit is older than 10 years, you should let our biomedical technicians test your unit for functionality. If the old unit is unable to be upgraded to the latest AED guidelines, you should consider taking advantage of AED.com’s Trade-In Program. Depending on the type of unit, AED.com offers a Trade-In amount towards the purchase of a newer model AED unit. Call us at 855-233-0266 to speak with a representative today.