So you’ve made the life-saving investment of buying a defibrillator. Amazing news! So, you have your AED unit ready to go, but do you have everything that it needs to be completely rescue ready? Without the essential pairing of electrode pads and a battery, the defibrillator will not deliver the life-saving shock to the victim and will not do the job it’s designed to do.

When it comes to accessories for defibrillators, pads and batteries are necessities, but you need to consider many other things too. Two important factors for consideration being:

  • Where you’re going to store it?
  • Are you aware of the maintenance a defibrillator requires?

Unsure on either of the above? Not to worry, by the end of this post you’ll have a wide understanding of your defibrillator and what it needs to be ready for a cardiac arrest emergency.

Pads

Electrode pads are one of the most important accessories for your defibrillator. This piece of equipment provides the vital connection between the patient and defibrillator, which delivers a life-saving shock.

Electrode pads come in two sizes; adult and paediatric. Paediatric pads are used slightly differently to adult pads as they automatically lower the voltage of the shock from 150 Joules to 50 Joules and are placed in different places on the child’s body, but don’t worry – the diagrams on the electrodes will show you exactly where to place them for both an adult and a child.

Paediatric pads should be used on children from the ages of 1-8 years old whereas anyone over the age of 8 can be safely shocked with adult pads.

All electrode pads have a shelf life; the majority of them being 2 years, and are single use only. Purchasing a second pair of pads ensures your defibrillator is rescue ready at all times and can still be used to save a life should your original pads become compromised. Once the pads have been used, they cannot be used again.

Each set of electrode pads are specific to a defibrillator make and model, so make sure you buy the correct ones if you do choose to purchase a second or third set. Many come pre-connected to the devices which help significantly with the response time in emergency situations if a defibrillator is needed. Just be sure to connect your new pads, when you purchase a replacement set

Batteries

Batteries supply your defibrillator with the power to deliver a life-saving shock. Without the battery, the device wouldn’t even switch on!

The lifespan of a battery differs with each model. Many range from 2 years, to 5 years or even 7! But there are many determining factors to consider which will alter how long a battery will last, these include:

  • The defibrillator make and model- different devices require a different amount of power to keep them running and rescue ready. This is due to extensive daily, weekly and monthly self-tests to ensure every aspect of your unit is working as it should.

 

  • Usage- if you have used your defibrillator, then this will drain your battery power significantly more than if it hasn’t been used. If you haven’t used the defibrillator, then just the AED performing self-checks could potentially affect battery life.

 

  • Varying expiry dates- different manufacturers will use different batteries for their defibrillators meaning they will have varying expiry dates. Having a spare battery for your defibrillator helps the device to always be rescue ready, by having a fully-charged spare, ready for use.

Some defibrillators come with a rechargeable battery. This characteristic features more in the professional grade defibrillators available for purchase which are best suited to clinical environments such as hospitals. The professional graded devices are often used more frequently, so the rechargeable batteries lower the long term cost and ensure it is always ready fully-charged and ready for use.

Cabinets and Wall Brackets

Since purchasing your AED have you considered where you’re going to store your defibrillator? Is the location easily identifiable and accessible for first responders? There are a wide range of cabinets and wall mounts options to house your AED, some specifically designed for the make and model of a defibrillator, whereas others are simply designed and can store a wide variety of defibrillators, regardless of their size.

A serious question you need to ask yourself is: ‘Where will I store my defibrillator? Will a cabinet or wall bracket be more suitable in this environment?’ Both have unique features to them which can aid in certain environments better than the other. Cabinets can store larger defibrillator units, and are usually marked with a heart sign on the front - the universal symbol to alert bystanders to the presence of an AED. Some cabinets are armed, to offer protection for the device and many can even be placed outside to provide public access in a medical emergency.

If you feel a cabinet is not the right approach for you, then a more minimalist approach could be a simple wall bracket. These are easy to hang and don’t take up much wall space, however are still highly visible. Some come with straps as an added security measure for your defibrillator, so you know it is easily accessible if needed in an emergency situation.

If you need your AED on the go with you whilst travelling, then considering a vehicle bracket could be your best option. The defibrillator would fit snug inside and would be protected from scrapes and bumps, ensuring that it is in full working condition if an emergency situation did arise in work or out in a public location. Having an AED to hand at all times allows you to act in an emergency situation, no matter where you are.

Carry Cases

Once your purchase has been made, have you thought of making your life-saving AED transportable? By doing this you can be rescue ready wherever you take your device and a carry case will ensure it’s kept safe and secure at all times. Regardless of size and build, there will always be a carry case for your defibrillator out there.

Many suppliers have made custom carry cases for their devices, such as the Heartsine Samaritan Pad 350P. This bold, blue device sits snug in its provided slim carry case, with easy access to the device and even comes fitted with other compartments to fit other rescue essentials in.

As well as custom fit cases, there are also universal cases which will store a variety of defibrillators. These will come in an array of shapes and sizes, meaning all defibrillators will be able to fit into at least one carry case. Similar to custom carry cases; universal cases have extra compartments to fit other first aid essentials in there, so you’re fully prepared in the event of an emergency.

Still Unsure?

If you’re still unsure about any of the accessories, you’ll be please to know that defibshop stock all of these items and are always on hand to offer professional, expert and impartial advice to help you find the right product for you. You can give our team a call on 0845 071 0830 and rest assured, they’ll direct you to everything you need to deliver a life-saving shock in any emergency situation.