Maintaining your ZOLL AED Plus

AEDs are the only form of treatment for sudden cardiac arrest. While simple to use, they do require ongoing management and maintenance to ensure they are ready in the event of an emergency.

The ZOLL AED Plus has many features which make it an excellent choice for your emergency preparedness plan. One of these features is on-going internal self-checks to ensure readiness. Once these checks are completed, the status indicator window will have a green checkmark if all is well, and a red X if it has detected a problem. This readiness indicator, however, is not enough to confirm the AED is ready. Regular inspections only take a few minutes, and will give you peace of mind your AED not only meets the manufacturer requirements, but is ready to save a life.

Use this quick 5-step process to inspect your ZOLL AED Plus:

1) Overall condition inspection:

• Remove the AED from the cabinet and its case.
• Check for any obvious damage or missing parts.
• Make sure the status indicator is flashing a green checkmark.

2) Battery status:

• The batteries used in the ZOLL AED Plus should last approximately five years.
• Check your AED check tag to ensure for installation date to ensure the batteries are not expired.
• When a low battery condition occurs, the AED Plus emits an audible alarm or beep once every minute when the AED Plus is in standby mode.
• When turned on, the AED Plus will give a “change battery” audio prompt if they are depleted.

3) Electrode pads:

• Remove the lid and inspect the electrode pads to ensure they are still sealed in the package.
• Check the expiration date on the pads to ensure they have not expired.
• Check any extra pads or pediatric pads for expiration dates.
• If the expiration date of any pads is approaching or has passed, new pads should be ordered promptly to ensure maximum rescue capability in a cardiac arrest emergency.

4) Accessory equipment:

• An AED should have an emergency response kit stored with it. These kits typically include a towel, razor, CPR face shield, scissors, and gloves. If any pieces are missing, replace them promptly.
• Signage should be clearly visible and in good repair.

5) AED cabinet:

• Alarmed cabinets with or without strobe lights should be trigged to ensure the batteries are in good working order. Your cabinet instructions show you how to change the batteries if necessary.
• Check that the door can easily open and is not obstructed by nearby doors or other items.

Once you’ve completed these five steps, indicate your findings on your AED check tag and note the month and day you completed the check. Remember to keep a stock of fresh check tags with your AED so you are able to keep your notes current.

Cardio Partners carries all ZOLL AED Plus accessories, and our specialists are happy to help you replenish any missing items, replace expiring parts, or answer any questions you may have about your AED’s condition.

Are you managing multiple AEDs? Our AED management service, LifeShield, may be a good fit for your organization. LifeShield sends you reminders to check your AED, keeps track of expiration dates, as well as providing medical oversight so you are always compliant with your local and state AED legislation. You can learn more about LifeShield at: www.aed.com/lifeshield