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AED Inspection, Maintenance, & FAQs
Is an AED required at my place of business, school, or gym?
Laws vary state by state and there are many resources available for determining whether an AED is required. Laws and regulations change frequently regarding AED placement & training requirements. Here are just some of the venues that are required by several states:
- Schools
- Health, fitness, and/or athletic facilities
- State-owned or occupied facilities
- Gambling venues
- Public golf courses
How often should I inspect my AED?
Visual checks should be performed in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations, company directives, or at least weekly. At a minimum, visual inspection should include:
- Check the status indicator – depending on the manufacturer, you should see a green checkmark, the words "Ready" or "OK".
- Confirm there is at least one set of adult & pediatric pads
- Signs of any damage
- Indications of missing parts
- Presence of cracks, chips or tears of the case or cover
- If there are any indications that the AED has been dropped, it should be replaced and sent our for service.
- Have the AED pads expired?
- If the unit is stored in a cabinet, is the cabinet weathertight?
- If the cabinet is alarmed, does the alarm sound?
How often should my AED by serviced?
Most AEDs require very little maintenance. They are designed to sit idle for months, sometimes years, before they are used in an emergency. Best practice is to follow manufacturer's recommendations regarding professional servicing.
There are a number of companies located throughout the country that can service your AED. Call or click here for more information
Is an AED easy to use?
Although there are many different brands of AEDs, they all follow the same basic three steps:
- Turn the unit on
- Attach the electrode pads
- Follow instructions
Do AEDs require additional equpment for use?
In addition to at least one set of adult & pediatric pads, the following epuipment should be located with the unit:
- Gloves (non-latex)
- Barrier device for rescue breathing
- Scissors to cut clothing (pads must be attached to bare skin)
- Small facecloth or towel to dry wet or moist skin prior to pad placement
- Disposable razor to quickly shave hair that may impede proper attachment of pads
Do AEDs have audible warning sounds?
In addition to status buttons to indicate whether your AED is ready to go, most AEDs are equipped with audible alarms to let users know that the unit needs attention. The audible alarm often sounds like the chirp of a smoke-detector.
Check the operator manual, contact the manufacturer, or speak with an authorized AED service company for assistance.