Portable defibrillator devices have been in development since 1965, but they have only been recently made available to the general public. Since they are lightweight and relatively simple to use, they changed the landscape of emergency medical services for rural and remote areas by decreasing the waiting time for paramedics to arrive. Now they can be available for use by a wide variety of people and businesses, including law enforcement and other first responders and businesses where physical risk may be inherent in the services provided.

Did you know that some businesses are legally required to have an AED, or automated external defibrillators, on the premises in case of emergencies? These are just a few examples of such businesses:

• Swimming pools
• Dental offices (because of the administration of anesthesia)
• Private and charter schools in some states
• Gyms and health clubs

Other kinds of business that would also benefit from having a defibrillator are assisted living complexes, restaurants, construction sites, and manufacturing facilities.

If you are unsure if your business must keep an AED and those certified to use it on the premises, a qualified business attorney can advise you correctly. There is also no reason why any business or establishment shouldn’t keep a working AED available for emergencies.

Like any other piece of medical equipment, AEDs require maintenance and replacement of worn parts including AED pads, which plug directly into the AED. They make contact with the patient’s skin to allow the electrical current to flow from the defibrillator unit into the patient. The pads are made up of metal and plastic materials and include a conductive adhesive gel. As the AED pad gets older in the package, the gel doesn’t adhere as well and its ability to make proper contact with the patient is compromised. It affects the ability of the machine to deliver the proper electric current to assist or resuscitate the patient.

AED pad replacement is suggested when the expiration date has been reached or exceeded. Most AED pads are expected to be viable for anywhere from 18 to 30 months. After that, the gel begins to break down and dry out, which makes the AED pad unusable.

AED maintenance should include regular inspections of the machine itself and the pads to be certain that they are working properly and have not reached their expiration dates.

Coast Biomedical Equipment offers defibrillators, AED pads, and other accessories necessary for providing emergency medical services. Contact us today or visit our website to learn more.