Maintenance and Service of my AED

Why do AED pads expire?

AED pads expire because over time the gel adhesive starts to deteriorate over time and may not make proper contact with a patient if expired.

Do AED pads need to make skin contact?

Yes, the AED pads need to make proper skin contact in order for the AED to provide the proper therapy needed for a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) victim. When the pads have good skin contact, the AED is able to:

Correctly analyze the patient’s heart rhythm and determine whether the patient is in sudden cardiac arrest or not.
Effectively deliver the lifesaving shock therapy.

What is the use of gel for adhesion in AED pads?

During manufacturing the AED pads have a specially formulated gel applied to them in order to adhere to the skin properly. However, over time the chemical makeup of the gel begins to break down causing it to dry out, reducing their effectiveness. AED pads that are past their expiration date will not adhere to the skin well. Particularly during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), AED pads with poor adhesion may peel away or fall off, reducing the AED’s ability to provide effective analysis and therapy.

What happens when AED pads expire?

Once the AED pads have reach their expiration date they can no longer be guaranteed to provide enough adhesion for the AED to effectively analyse the patient’s heart rhythm or provide therapy. It is important to replace pads prior to the expiration date to ensure that sudden cardiac arrest patients have the best possible chance of survival; we also recommended you record when pads are changed in you AED’s inspection tag and maintenance sheet. Typical AED pads have a life expectancy of between 18 and 60 months (Please check the manufacturer's product manual to determine actual life expectancy).

What about accessories/disposables?

It is important that you regularly inspect your AED and preserve a detailed maintenance sheet in order to ensure the readiness and integrity of the device. Both Pads and Batteries will expire overtime. A well kept maintenance sheet will help ensure you are able to acquire replacements prior to their expiration.

Do AEDs need to be calibrated?

No, The AED does not require manual calibration. The device will perform regular self-test to assure all components are installed correctly and ready for use. There are no user-serviceable parts on the AED only disposables/accessories. While the AED does self-test it is still crucial that you perform regular checks in accordance to your user manual.