At 100,000 deaths each year, sudden cardiac arrest is considered the leading cause of death in the UK. While it's a huge number, the good news is that there are automated external defibrillators (AEDs) like Lifepak 1000 that can save many of these lives when used properly and promptly. Did you know that AEDs have a survival rate of 70% when used within three minutes after a person experiences a sudden cardiac arrest?


But for medical and emergency responders to effectively use such a life-saving device, it's important to be properly maintained. Here are five things to remember.

Follow what's recommended by the manufacturer. When it comes to maintaining an AED, it’s best to follow any instructions stated by the manufacturer in the manual — from how it should be used and stored to how it should be cleaned and inspected. For instance, if you have a Lifepak CR Plus AED, read up its accompanying manual and familiarise yourself with its parts and components and proper use and maintenance.

Always check the AED’s status indicator light. When using an AED, it is important always to check the status indicator light. This will tell you if the device is working properly. If the light is off or blinking, it means that the device needs to be serviced. In other cases, an AED will emit a green light to indicate it’s functioning well and red if it has some issue that needs to be addressed.

Visually inspect your AED. To make the maintenance of your AEDs and other emergency response-related devices more efficient, first you have to designate an inspection coordinator. Assigning one or two to the task will create a specialisation (e.g. They will be more familiar if your Lifepak 1000 is still in good working condition). Then, let these designated people inspect your AEDs for dirt, damage, or contamination and if anything is found, take appropriate action (e.g. Cleaning, coordinating with the manufacturer or other authorise service centre). Bear in mind that if an AED is not working properly, or if it is contaminated, it could put someone's life at risk.

Store your AED in a safe location. AEDs should be stored in a safe, accessible location in case of an emergency. They should be placed in a location where they will not be obstructed by furniture or other objects. This is one way of making sure that they’re not contaminated or damaged.

Ensure that all electrode pads, batteries, and backups are current. Generally, AEDS like the Lifepak 1000 have at least three sets of working adhesive electrode pads. These are the very pads placed on the bare chest of someone suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. Apart from these pads, you have to make sure that your AED’s battery is functional. Check its replacement date and always store a backup battery. Similarly, you also have to always stock secondary supplies (e.g. Prep pads, gloves, cloth) that are needed to make an cardiac arrest response successful.