Tagged with 'AED Compliance Management'

AED cabinets may be placed in different areas depending on the building, but the most important detail is the same—wherever you place your cabinet, make sure the cabinet is visible and able to be accessed quickly and easily.

An effective AED Program implements a 3-minute response time from the collapse of the victim to retrieving the AED and using it on the victim. If you have a larger facility, you can use the 3-minute guide to figure out how many AEDs you may need and where to place them.

Mount your AED cabinet in accordance with ADA guidelines:

In order to stay in compliance with the ADA, your cabinet needs to be placed no more than 48 inches above the ground. This allows someone who is shorter or in a wheelchair to retrieve the AED if needed.

Place your AED in an easily accessible area

AEDs need to be able to be accessible to bystanders and employees at all times. Many people place their AEDs in the same easily accessible location as their first aid kit or fire extinguisher. The American Heart Association suggests placing the cabinet near areas such as:

• Common areas or hallways
• Elevators
• Cafeterias or break rooms
• Customer service desks

Avoid keeping the AED in areas that are commonly out of sight for employees and/or patrons. Don’t put your AED in a storage closet, basement, or behind a locked door—this makes it difficult for rescuers to access it when needed.

Note how your surroundings may affect the AED

If your AED is in direct sunlight, it can affect it negatively. The constant heat from the sun can ruin the pads, battery, or the device itself, making it useless during an emergency situation. Avoid placing the AED in direct sunlight.

If your AED may inadvertently get exposed to water because it is near a pool or other water source, ensure it’s always stored in the cabinet to help protect the integrity of the device.

The longer a person goes without effective CPR and defibrillation, the less likely they are to survive. That is why it is so important for your AED to be accessible and for your personnel to be trained in CPR and how to use the AED.

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.