Tagged with 'aeds'

The importance of AEDs in fitness centers and gyms

Making sure your gym or fitness center has an automated external defibrillator (AED) can mean the difference between life and death. AEDs are small, portable, and easy-to-use life-saving devices that can be used to shock a person’s heart back into rhythm if it has stopped or is beating irregularly.

Reason #1: SCA is more common than you think it is

According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 Americans suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year. 

Reason #2: Strenuous Exercise Raises Short-term Risk of Heart Attack and Sudden Cardiac Arrest 

And many of these cardiac arrests occur while people are pumping iron or pounding the treadmill. A study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that about 16% of public, indoor sudden cardiac arrests reported over a 12-year period occurred at an exercise facility.

But that’s not an excuse for ditching your New Year’s Resolutions. Fitness is key to a healthy lifestyle. In fact, physical exercise remains one of the best ways to lower overall heart disease risk. So get moving!

Reason #3: AEDs Improve Survival Odds in Fitness Centers

Get this: that study also found that people who suffered cardiac arrest in traditional exercise facilities had a significantly higher survival rate compared to people who were in non-traditional exercise facilities (like community centers, church gyms, and dance studios).

What’s the difference? Well, fitness centers and gyms are more likely to have AEDs — and people on staff who are trained to use them — than other locations. Gyms are also more likely to have multiple AEDs throughout the facility. Poolside, cycling studios, weight rooms, cardio floors, and by the entrance are all common gym AED locations.

Reason #4: Your State May Require One

Many states require fitness facilities and gyms to have an AED on site. Any health club that does not have an AED — even if your state hasn’t mandated them — runs the risk of being seen as acting with indifference to the welfare and safety of its patrons and members. In other words, it’s your duty of care. 

Reason #5: Liability Protection

Facilities with AEDs may have lower insurance premiums because they’re less likely to endure liability lawsuits filed by grieving families.

To find out which AED is right for your gym or fitness facility or to schedule a training, visit our blog, 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.

All AEDs come with a battery and pads but when your AED arrives, you might see some extra accessories. Here’s a list of what you can expect:

• Battery: This powers your AED. Without it, the AED won’t function.
• Adult Pad: Pads are placed on the chest and pass through the shock from the AED to the victim. Adult pads are used for those over the age of 8 and/or heavier than 55 lb.
• 1 AED Check Tag: Use to note battery and pad expirations and regular monthly checks.
• 1 AED Window Decal: Lets employees and guests know an AED is present in the building.
• 1 CPR Response Kit: Includes the necessary items to help prepare the patient and rescuer for CPR and the use of an AED.
• 1 Physician's Prescription: FDA requires all AEDs have a physician's prescription.

AED Packages are designed specifically for your needs. There are a variety of package options ranging from home to business. Each of these packages provides different options to keep you prepared in an emergency. Here are some of the extra items that may be found in AED Packages:

• Child/Pediatric Pads/Key: Organizations that frequently have children (under 8 years/under 55 lb.) present need pediatric pads or a pediatric key which adjusts the strength of the shock when the victim is a child.
• Alarmed Cabinet: The cabinet is mounted on the wall and used to hold your AED and CPR response kit. The alarm helps prevent tampering and notifies those nearby when there is an emergency.
• Wall Signs: Wall signs are used as a visual indicator to show where the AED is from far away. This makes it easier to find the AED. Some AED packages contain triangle wall signs which provide additional visibility around corners.
• AED Backpack: Included in portable AED packages, this backpack features a clear window to allow those nearby to see there is an AED on-site.

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.