Yes! And here’s why your AED or defibrillator needs routine servicing.

Good for you! You’ve made the potentially life-saving decision to equip your office, home, school, or public spaces with highly-visible and strategically placed automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). Bonus points if you’ve invested in an AED compliance management program. 

However, if you’re still on the fence about a preventative maintenance plan, read on!

How is AED and Defibrillator Preventative Maintenance Different from Compliance Management? 

A compliance management program includes check logging, expiration tracking, and helps ensure that your equipment is properly registered. The Cardio Partners Life Shield  AED Compliance Management system even sends regular reminders for you to check your AED’s power and verify battery life. 

Although AEDs are generally low-maintenance, a preventative maintenance plan helps prolong the lifespan of your life-saving AED or manual defibrillator and helps you avoid unexpected repair costs. AED and defibrillator maintenance plans make it easy for AED owners to make necessary repairs quickly and affordably. Plus, they may even help minimize potential liability issues.

Here’s the biggest reason of all to have your AED or manual defibrillator serviced: a well-maintained AED or defibrillator is always rescue-ready. 

How Do I Know if My AED or Manual Defibrillator Needs Service?

Is your AED or defibrillator beeping? Chirping? Blinking insistent red lights or otherwise behaving strangely? 

If so, it’s probably trying to tell you something. 

Most AEDs run daily self-tests to ensure that, in the event of an emergency, it’s ready to save lives. Here are a few common reasons why your device may need service:

• Its pads have expired.
• The pads have been disconnected from the unit.
• The battery has expired or doesn’t have sufficient energy for a charge.
• The software needs to be updated.
• A mechanical error has been detected.
• AED is too cold (or too hot!).

Leave Service to the AED Professionals

Certified medical equipment repair technicians, like those on our team here at Cardio Partners, will thoroughly analyze your equipment and will run brand-specific diagnostics to ensure that your machine is operating effectively. 

We offer a multi-point inspection for all makes and models of AEDs and manual defibrillators. Our team is qualified to service equipment produced by industry-leading AED manufacturers such as Zoll, Philips, Cardiac Science, and more. 

Cardio Partners AED Service Checklist

Here’s what you can expect from our multi-point AED and manual defibrillator inspections:

1. We’ll make sure that your AED software is upgraded to the current AHA guidelines. 
2. Using a Fluke Impulse 7000 defibrillator analyzer, we’ll simulate a shockable rhythm. Multiple shocks are delivered to ensure the energy output is within current FDA guidelines.
3. Device performance is recorded.
4. We’ll perform a careful visual inspection to ensure that your AED shows no signs of cracks, wear, or other damage. All findings will be noted.
5. Your device will be meticulously cleaned in a laboratory environment.
6. AED is accessorized and made patient-ready with electrodes and batteries installed.
7. We’ll initiate self-tests to make sure that your AED is emergency-ready.
8. Battery and pad expiration dates are recorded. (We’ll notify you 60 days prior to the expiration of your equipment’s accessories.)
9. Each order is hand-checked and packaged in accordance with FedEx and UPS regulations.
10. AED tracing is submitted to the manufacturer in accordance with FDA regulations.

Cardio Partners Manual Defibrillator Checklist

1. Unit is visually inspected to ensure the device is cosmetically sound.
2. Software version is recorded.
3. If a software upgrade is available from the manufacturer, your equipment will be updated.
4. Time and dates are checked and set, as necessary.
5. Unit and customer information is entered into Ansur Software and is recorded electronically and in hardcopy.
6. Device is tested on equipment that has been carefully calibrated by the manufacturer.
7. Joule output is tested and recorded.
8. Joule output is recorded and displayed on a sticker placed on the device.
9. Calibration sticker also notes the “Next Inspection” date according to manufacturer guidelines.
10. Pacing is tested (if applicable).
11. SpO2 is tested (if applicable).
12. Non-invasive blood pressure is tested (if applicable).
13. Capnography is tested (if applicable.)
14. Printer is tested and the test strip is shipped with the unit to show functionality.
15. All testing results stored on the server and test summary is printed and filed.
16. Unit is fully accessorized and assembled patient-ready.
17. Device is meticulously hand-cleaned.
18. Packing slip is printed and hand-checked to ensure that all items are included.
19. Devices are professionally packed using approved materials.
20. Tracking number is recorded on SO/Invoice.
21. Battery and pad expiration dates are recorded (you’ll be notified 60 days prior to their expiration).
22. Device information and destination are submitted to the manufacturer in accordance with FDA regulations.

To learn more about our AED and defibrillator service and preventative maintenance programs or our online compliance management program, LifeShield, contact Cardio Partners at 866-349-4362 or email us at customerservice@cardiopartners.com.

DISCLAIMER: The information included in this post and on our website is not intended as legal advice. As legislation changes often, this post may inadvertently contain inaccurate or incomplete information. We urge you to contact your state representative should you require more information about current AED, CPR, and Good Samaritan laws in your state.

DISCLAIMER: Information found on the aed.com blog is intended to educate, inform, and motivate readers to make their health and wellness decisions after consulting with their healthcare provider. The authors are not healthcare providers. NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.

How to store your AED in the winter

Not only do cold temperatures increase the likelihood of hypothermia — which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) — but weather extremes may also negatively affect the performance of your AED.

Whether you keep an AED for personal use in your vehicle or your commercial fleet is equipped with durable AEDs, like the Zoll AED Plus, it’s smart to understand how cold weather can impact your AED.

AED batteries drain more quickly in colder temperatures and the water-based gel found in some AED pads may freeze. AEDs that are too cold may also fail to operate, rendering them useless in emergency situations. The way you store your AED in winter can make a huge difference in your AED’s rescue-readiness.

Each AED manufacturer lists the optimal operating temperature ranges for their devices; typically, 32° to 122°F. To prolong the lifespan and ensure the efficacy of your AED, your unit should not be stored in a place where temperatures go below freezing or above 122°F. 

Many public access AEDs are stored outdoors, for around-the-clock availability. If you have an outdoor public access AED, be sure to invest in an all-weather cabinet and check the device’s batteries and pads monthly.

If you keep an AED in your car or work vehicle, insulated cases may help protect the device from extreme temperatures. We also recommend storing AEDs in the heated cabin (not the trunk!) and taking them indoors when temperatures are projected to fall below freezing. You may also want to invest in an extra battery, just in case cooler temperatures are extra hard on your battery!

Fortunately, most AEDs, like the Cardiac Science Powerheart, for example, perform daily self-checks to ensure that all its essential components are operational. These self-diagnostic checks assess defibrillator temperature.

If you’re AED is beeping or chirping, it requires immediate attention. Take the device indoors and allow it to return to normal operating temperatures. This may take at least 30 minutes. (Which, obviously, wouldn’t work in an SCA situation!) Then, follow the prompts to clear error messages and return the device to a state of rescue-readiness.

Keep your AED rescue-ready, regardless of the season. Invest in an affordable Cardio Partners preventative maintenance plan. Call Cardio Partners at 866-349-4362 or send an email to customerservice@cardiopartners.com — we’re ready to help!

DISCLAIMER: The information included in this post and on our website is not intended as legal advice. As legislation changes often, this post may inadvertently contain inaccurate or incomplete information. We urge you to contact your state representative should you require more information about current AED, CPR, and Good Samaritan laws in your state.

DISCLAIMER: Information found on the aed.com blog is intended to educate, inform, and motivate readers to make their health and wellness decisions after consulting with their healthcare provider. The authors are not healthcare providers. NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.

Stay safe and warm with these winter safety tips! 

Everyone may be ready for the change of seasons this year, but winter brings a whole new slew of safety challenges.

Not only can wet, heavy snow can lead to dangerous ice accumulation, but shoveling heavy snow can also cause injuries and spark cardiac events like heart attacks or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Climate Central also reports that weather-related blackouts have doubled in recent years and winter storms cause thousands of highway accidents, personal injuries, and power outages.

Here at Cardio Partners, we believe that it’s a smart move to prepare your home, vehicles, and family for whatever winter has in store. Check out these winter safety tips, then pull your boots out of storage and enjoy the crisp, clear air. If you’re lucky enough to have snow, by all means, head for the nearest sledding hill!

Stay safe and stay warm with these tried-and-true winter safety tips

Pack a Winter and Cold Weather Emergency Kit

Like a good scout, always be prepared. Here are a few smart — and potentially life-saving —  items to have on hand (and in your vehicle) in case of a winter emergency or power outage:

• Flashlights, candles, lanterns, matches, flares, spare batteries, and battery or a hand-crank phone charger/weather radio combo.
• Bottled water, canned food, can openers, and — if you’re feeling adventurous — a good multi-tool.
• Small camping stove and a few tasty dehydrated meals like this smoked three bean chili!
• Pre-ground coffee and a French press. (What can we say? We believe good coffee is always a great idea.)
• Extra blankets, mylar blankets, warm clothes, and hand and foot warmers.
• First aid kit, bleeding control kit, home-use AED, and a small stash of essential medications.
• Hand sanitizer, PPE, and sanitizing wipes.
• Books, board games, doodle pads, and playing cards. Because let’s face it, boredom is the ultimate hazard!

Winterize Your Home for Winter Safety

Keep the cold out and the cozy in. Winterizing your home can save you big bucks, keep you more comfortable, and reduce the likelihood of frozen pipes. 

November is a great month to make sure that your:

• Heating systems (fireplaces, wood stoves, and furnaces) have been professionally inspected and cleaned.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order.
• Home is well-insulated and that all the windows and doors seal tightly.
• Gutters are clear — so you can avoid icicles and dangerous ice dams, which can damage your roof.
• Vulnerable pipes that are most susceptible to freezing are well-insulated.
• Garden hoses are disconnected and stored for the winter.

Are you rescue-ready for winter? Call Cardio Partners at 866-349-4362 or send an email to customerservice@cardiopartners.com — we’re ready to help!

DISCLAIMER: The information included in this post and on our website is not intended as legal advice. As legislation changes often, this post may inadvertently contain inaccurate or incomplete information. We urge you to contact your state representative should you require more information about current AED, CPR, and Good Samaritan laws in your state.

Sudden cardiac arrest may be surprising, but there’s no reason to be unprepared

Wondering what you can do to fight sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)? Get informed and share information with others! To help you out, we took a stroll through our blog and collected links to a few of our most popular posts. We hope you’ll spread the word about cardiac arrest and encourage businesses, leaders, and families in your community to fight SCA with knowledge, CPR training, and AEDs.

Knowledge is power: arm yourself with SCA stats

It’s surprising, but many people are unaware of how common SCA really is. Here’s what you need to know:

• Each year, more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) occur in the United States.
• Among middle-aged adults treated for SCA, 50% had no symptoms before the onset of arrest.
• 475,000 Americans die from a cardiac arrest every year and 17.5 million people across the globe die from cardiovascular disease each year.
• 10,000 SCAs occur in the workplace each year.
• 68.5% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home.
• 45% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survive when bystander CPR is administered.

For more information, check out 6 Shocking Statistics About Cardiac Arrest.

Learn CPR

Learning CPR is one of the most important things you can do to fight SCA. What will you learn in a CPR course? You’ll learn why CPR is so effective, how it works, and how to perform it. You’ll also practice CPR on a manikin to fine-tune your skills and gain the confidence you need to save a life.

It’s easy to schedule CPR training. Download and share our CPR flyer with businesses and leaders in your community. 

Encourage local businesses to purchase AEDs

Cardiac arrest can be reversible. When local businesses have an AED on-site, they’re investing in their employees and their customers. When a person who is experiencing SCA receives CPR immediately and a shock from an AED, their survival odds are vastly improved. Does your favorite business have an AED? 

We’ve made it easy for you to share information about purchasing an AED! Download a free flyer today! 

Create an Emergency Plan

It’s great that your favorite coffee shop, rec center, and dentist have publicly accessible AEDs, but do they know what to do in the event of an emergency? Encourage any businesses or households with an AED to develop an emergency action plan. 

Purchase an AED for Home Use

Speaking of households with an AED ... we think it’s a good idea for individuals who are at a higher risk for cardiac arrest to have an AED for home use. It's especially important for the elderly, those with heart disease, or individuals with a family history of coronary artery disease. 

Other risk factors for SCA can include:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• A sedentary lifestyle

Ready to fight SCA with knowledge, AEDs, and CPR? We offer CPR, First Aid, AED, and bloodborne pathogen training courses in all 50 states in traditional classroom settings and blended learning courses. 

To learn more about our courses or to schedule training, call our team at 866-349-4362 or email us at customerservice@cardiopartners.com.

DISCLAIMER: Information and resources found on the aed.com website and blog are intended to educate, inform, and motivate readers to make their health and wellness decisions after consulting with their healthcare provider. The authors are not healthcare providers. NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.