9 Important Questions to Ask When Buying an AED

Think all AEDs are the same? Think again.

AED similarities stop at the acronym that is used to describe them. When shopping for an AED, it is important to understand the differences and how they relate to your needs. The following are questions and factors you should consider when purchasing your AED.

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1. What is the initial cost of the AED? 
   The price of the AED is only one cost factor you will need to consider, but it is the most significant initial investment you will make. Starting at a good price point will set you up to stay on-budget.
2. What is included in the initial AED price? 
   Does it come with a soft carrying case, pads, batteries, or a rescue accessories kit? Or other items such as scissors, razors, barrier masks, gloves, or washcloths? Not all offers are equal, so be sure to see what comes bundled with your AED purchase.
3. What is the total cost-of-ownership of the AED? 
   This aspect is often overlooked. At Marelly we always stress this to our customers when meeting with them. How often do the pads and batteries have to be replaced? How much do they cost? A cheaper AED might cost less in the beginning, but usually ends up costing much more in the long term than other AEDs that cost only a little more up front. (Words of wisdom: The cheapest is never the best.)
4. What is the cost to upgrade the device when new CPR/AED guidelines are released? 
   Every four to six years, the American Heart Association updates the guidelines for CPR/AED administration. Therefore, AEDs have to be upgraded with new software. Find out if the upgrade can be performed onsite at your location or if the device has to be sent in.
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5. What type of pads come with the AED?
   Does the AED you’re considering use the traditional two-piece pads, or a one-piece pad? Some people find that AEDs with one-piece pads like the Zoll AED Plus can be easier to use than 2-pad AEDs. They are also easier to replace and can last for up to 5 years.
6. How durable is the AED? 
   All AEDs have what is called an IP (Ingress Protection) Rating. Usually labeled somewhere on the back of the AED, this rating tells you the AED’s resistance to natural elements like water and dirt or dust. The higher the rating the better. For more info about AED IP Ratings, simply contact Marelly and we will send you information.
7. Does the AED provide audio, or audio AND visual prompts for the responder(s)?
   A sudden cardiac arrest is not exactly a nice, calm, quiet event. Hearing an AED can be tough based upon the environment it is used in. The more audio AND visual prompts the better, which also helps the responder not have to rely only on memory.
8. What type of additional support will the AED provide if no shock is needed? 
   FACT: 50% of the time an AED is used, the person does not initially have a shockable rhythm. However, 100% of SCA victims will need high quality CPR in order to survive.
9. What type of CPR support does the AED Provide? No support? Minimal? CPR “Prompting”?, or real-time CPR Coaching/Feedback? 
   The more support the better. The chance of a lay responder providing high quality CPR to a victim is very low, simply because that person has probably never performed CPR on a victim before. Don’t just settle on any two-button “shock box.” Again, AED similarities stop at the acronym that is used to describe them. Make sure your AED provides as much support as possible, including CPR support. This will increase the chances of a successful rescue, cut down on confusion, and provide the closure that a good Samaritan needs after an SCA event.

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An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a great first aid asset for any workplace, community organisation or home. AEDs are recognised as one of the key parts of the Chain of Survival and can dramatically increase survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest when compared to CPR alone. However the choice of AED’s on the market is quiet extensive and comparing the different models can be difficult at times. Here are our top seven things to consider when purchasing your next AED.

1. The Brand

Automated external defibrillators are not cheap (see below) so you want to buy right the first time. It is advisable to stick to the recognised manufacturers on the market. This is to provide you with a level of confidence in their construction and build quality, their after sales support and warranty, and a continued supply of consumables going into the future. For example, if your no-name branded AED manufacturer goes out of business and you can’t source the consumables for your AED e.g. – batteries, your AED will unfortunately become obsolete. The most recognised brands on the Australian market are Zoll, Laerdal (Phillips), Cardiac Science, Physio Control and DefibTek. It would be wise to also consider how easy it will be to get service in the event that something goes wrong with your AED unit. Can you get your retailer to come to inspect the unit or will you have to post/courier the unit back to an online retailer?

2. Ease of Use

One of the biggest factors to consider when buying an AED, which is also one factor that some buyers rarely consider, is the ease of use of the unit. Whilst all AED models are similar, they also have some small differences particularly when it comes to their ease of use and operation. We’ve noticed during our many years of First Aid training that these small differences can dramatically affect how easy it is for a user to operate them. In an emergency, you want your AED to be as easy to use as possible.

Things to consider include the layout of the front of the AED – is it logical? You should compare the size, location and colour of the on/off and shock buttons. Are the buttons back lit for low-light operation? Does the unit include easy-to-follow diagrams on the front of the unit? Are the pads pre-connected or does the user have to attach pads immediately before use?

What verbal and visual prompts and guidance does your unit offer? Some units will provide additional guidance when it comes to providing care to a casualty including performing CPR. For example, some units provide a metronome to guide the speed of chest compressions whilst others can provide chest compression depth feedback. Is this guidance offered automatically (recommended) or does the user have to manually press a button to activate it?

Another factor to consider is the activation of the paediatric mode (where present). To activate this child mode, some AED models come with a simple switch on the front of the unit, other units require a user to attach a separate set of paediatric pads whilst other units require the insertion of a child key which some (untrained) users may find confusing or hard to notice.

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3. Training Options Available

One important consideration when buying a defibrillator is whether you will have access to training for your particular unit. It is all well and good to purchase an AED for your workplace but it is just as important, in an emergency, to ensure that your staff have been trained to use your particular AED model.  As you just learnt above, every AED model has its own idiosyncrasies which can affect its use. The easiest way for staff to become familiar with these idiosyncrasies is via CPR and AED training using an AED trainer unit that is the same as the specific model that your purchasing. Does your retailer offer this training service or can you access this training elsewhere?

4. Consumables

Another important factor when purchasing an AED is to consider its consumables. The two main consumables for an AED are batteries and pads. The difference in price of AED pads and batteries can affect an AED’s running costs. Whilst one particular unit may be cheaper upfront, more expensive batteries and pads may mean this cheaper unit is actually more expensive over the long term.

Directly linked to price is the shelf-life of the batteries and pads which can vary between units. For example, in batteries this difference can be as great as four years which means you would be needing to replace your battery nearly twice as often as a different model. As you can imagine, this can significantly add to the unit’s running costs over its life. Finally, you should also consider how easy it will be to purchase these consumables. With most AED pads having an average lifespan of two years, needing to replace and order consumables will be a frequent occurrence so you need to consider how easy it will be to source these consumables going into the future.

5. Inclusions

One consideration when buying an AED is the level of inclusions. What items are included in the AED package you are looking to purchase or comparing against another? Some retailers sell AEDs with the bare minimum i.e. just the AED unit and require you to purchase additional accessories, whilst others retailers include these accessories in a single package. The accessories you need will come down to your own individual set of requirements but items to consider are protective or carry cases, a spare set of pads, an extra battery, a mounting station or wall bracket/cabinet and paediatric pads and/or child keys.

6. Price

Another key factor when purchasing any AED is its price. In the past, AEDs use to retail for over $10,000 but now some AEDS are retailing for under $. You will find however most AEDs currently on the market in Australia retail for between $ and $. As noted above, one important consideration when comparing the costs of particular AEDs is the price difference in their respective consumables, particularly pads and batteries.

7. Physical Characteristics

AEDs can also differ in their physical characteristics and this can be another important consideration when purchasing your AED. The physical requirements of your AED will differ depending on its end use. For example, is the AED going to be stationary in an office environment or are you expecting to take it on remote trekking expeditions into the wilderness? AEDs can differ particularly in their size, weight and IP rating (International Protection Rating), which is their resistance against the intrusion of solid objects or dust, accidental contact, and water. For an office environment, you may only need a lower specification unit but for a more demanding environment, a higher spec unit may be required.

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Conclusion