You’re buying an AED, that’s great, fantastic, another community is protected. However, how do you decide which AED to buy? There are so many considerations, and as I am sure you’re aware, they pretty much all do the same thing. So, is price the only area you’re stuck on? There are far more things you should consider before purchasing an AED!

Total Cost of Ownership

The upfront cost is the highest one you’ll have to pay when purchasing your defibrillator, however, some ‘cheap’ defibrillators end up being more expensive in the long term due to the upkeep costs and expensive spares replacements. You need to check how long the batteries & pads last, the defibrillators warranty, and potentially how often it could be required to save a life.

Battery Life

Battery life prices fluctuate greatly, however typically speaking the more expensive it is, the longer it’s going to last you. For potential regular users, such as public access defibrillator, a longer battery life could be more cost-effective in the long term. Whereas for those in small private areas, such as small office, a shorter life may be more viable.

Ease of Use

Everybody wants an AED capable of high-level care. However, what if you aren’t trained in using the device? An AED that’s right for you is the one that’s the easiest to use. If you have had or will be having AED & CPR training, then perhaps having a semi-automatic shock defibrillator would be more cost effective than having a fully-automatic shock defibrillator. Either way, its instructions should be clear enough for an untrained bystander to be able to provide life-saving treatment.

A fully-automatic defibrillator will analyze the heart rhythm and if required deliver the shock automatically without pressing any buttons. Whereas a semi-automatic device will require the user to press the button to deliver the shock.

Some defibrillators have a CPR coaching facility, whether it be a basic metronome to regular CPR compressions or visual and verbal instructions. Unfortunately, the majority of individuals don’t have any or have limited first aid training, for this reason solely, having CPR coaching throughout makes all the difference, in both the treatment given and the confidence to help. Although they are more expensive than a basic defibrillator, can a cost be placed on a life? Our flagship product, the Lifeline VIEW is the only AED on the market with a full-colour video screen & audio talk-through, assisting the user during the life-saving treatment, scoring a top score of 100/100 by West Midlands Fire Service.

IP Rating

This two-digit value represents the defibrillators ability to tolerate dust and water. A rating of 55 would be a resilient device able to cope with harsher environments, whereas a device with a rating of 21 would be more suited to a traditional office environment. However, it is always recommended to have the highest possible IP as a precaution. Our Lifeline defibrillators have a rating of IP54 or above, making them incredibly robust and reliable in any environment.

What is stopping you from purchasing a defibrillator?

Every year in the UK over 600 people under the age of 35 dies from Sudden Cardiac Arrest, 270 of these will occur in educational establishments. Many of these deaths could be prevented with access to a defibrillator, along with effective CPR, both of which are incredibly accessible for universities, it’s students and its staff.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest occurs when an electrical malfunction in the heart causes it to beat in an irregular rhythm, stopping oxygenated blood from being pumped around the body. The only proven treatment is the use of a defibrillator and effective CPR, restoring the patient’s heart to a normal rhythm. If administered in the first 3-4 minutes, the victim’s survival chances increase tenfold, from 7% to over 70% – but with every minute without decreases the survival rate by 10%. If treatment is used within the first minute, the survival rate is as high as 90%.

The average UK ambulance time response is 11 minutes, even longer if they must navigate a large university campus. It is vital that universities have defibrillators on site. Is this a risk worth taking? Even if your campus is two minutes from the nearest medical service, is the life of an individual worth waiting for?

Universities are often the epicentre of a city, making defibrillators not only accessible for university associates but for those members of the public in the surrounding areas, potentially protecting the lives of thousands of individuals in the area from SCA.

Universities are actively encouraging students across the country to participate in sports and fitness activities on a more regular basis. Unfortunately, as we know, the preconceptions of Sudden Cardiac Arrest only affecting the old, unfit and unhealthy and far from the truth, we need to ensure our young adults are protected when participating in sport.

There are tens of thousands of university students participating in sporting events every day, surely, they deserve the same right as any other educational establishment?

As society knowledge and understanding of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and defibrillators are at an ever-high, along with technological advancements, the defibrillator market is bigger and better than ever before.

So, when it comes to purchasing your defibrillator; which one do you go for? There are a few factors that everybody should consider prior to purchasing one; price, IP Rating, semi Vs. fully automatic, battery life, the environment it’s going to be used within and whether the defibrillator needs to have CPR coaching.

Price

Although there can be no price on a life it is a factor that most will have to consider, although it isn’t relative to quality or functionality. Most defibrillators start around the £1,000 mark and raise up to £3,000 for public access devices. Every AED analyses the victim and then, if required, delivers a potential life-saving shock. Although the more expensive an AED is, often the warranty is longer, as is the battery and pad life.

IP Rating

This two-digit value represents the defibrillators ability to tolerate dust and water. A rating of 55 would be a resilient device able to cope with my harsher environments, whereas a device with a rating of 21 would be more suited to a traditional office environment. However, it is always recommended to have the highest possible IP as a precaution. Our defibrillators have a rating of IP54 or above, making them incredibly robust and reliable.

Semi Vs. Fully Automatic

One of the biggest questions when purchasing your defibrillator is to select a full or semi-automatic device. A fully automatic is best suited to those with no training as it will analyse the heart rhythm and if required deliver the shock automatically. Whereas a semi-automatic device will require the user to press the button to deliver the shock. The Lifeline range has the option for either fully or semi-automatic AEDs, dependent on the user’s preference.

CPR Coaching

Some defibrillators have a CPR coaching facility, whether it be a basic metronome to regular CPR compressions or give verbal feedback on the quality of compressions depends on the device. Most individuals don’t have any or have limited first aid training, for this reason solely, having CPR coaching throughout makes all the difference, in both the treatment given and the confidence to help by passersby. Our flagship product, the Lifeline VIEW is the only AED on the market with a full-colour video screen & audio talk-through, assisting the user during the life-saving treatment, scoring a top score of 100/100 by West Midlands Fire Service.

Warranty & Battery Life

The battery price greatly values its lifespan. For the occasional user, there is mileage in having a longer life battery as it reduces the regularity of battery replacement. However, for more regular users, such as defibrillator in a public environment, some models are available with rechargeable batteries as an optional extra, increasing initial expense but saving in the longer term.

Martek Lifecare only supplies the market leading defibrillator brand Defibtech. We don’t believe in charging our customers the earth to save people’s lives. Our entire range is competitively priced throughout, with bundles and accessories available for additional value. The Lifeline defibrillator range out competes it competitors in every category, providing cost-effective protection, a rugged & reliable IP rating, the option for CPR coaching, the option for both standard and long-life batteries and provides both fully or semi-automatic shock deliverance.

Read more about our range of Lifeline AEDs with our Buyers Guide.

For more information on any of our products, please contact us for a free consultation.

Following on the great success we had at the Safety & Health Expo last year, we will be returning to the expo later this month.

The Martek Lifecare team will be at the event across all three days, with live demonstrations and offers on our wide range of defibrillators & accessories. We also have lots of exciting education material for those who visit our stand!

The Safety & Health Expo is the UK’s largest health and safety event and conference, perfectly suited for everyone and anyone in the health, safety and wellbeing remit. For three days, from the 19-21 June 2018, you will be able to source the latest health and safety products, services and concepts on the market. No matter where you work or what your position is, there are over 75 CPD seminars designed for all along with fantastic networking opportunities and live shows.

We will be at stand Q130 across all three days! Click here to view a map of the event and where to find us!

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the world’s biggest, with a survival rate of less than 10%. In the UK alone, there are over 100,000 cases of SCA every year, many thousands happening in the workplace.

If you are currently thinking about whether your business needs a defibrillator, the only proven method to reduce the number of fatalities from SCA, if a defibrillator. As a thank you for visiting our stand and registering your interest, we are offering everybody a 30-day free trial on all our defibrillators! So, if you’re not convinced at how great our unit is, you can send it back!

We hope to see you at the event!

For more information on any of our defibrillators or accessories, please follow this link to our AED Buyers Guide!

Whatever your opinion of them, you can’t deny that drones are here to stay. Their price is dropping while their endurance, range and payload capacity are all increasing rapidly. In the UK alone, it’s estimated that there are likely to be 76,000 flying by 2030 which will add £42 billion to the country’s GDP as new types of jobs develop in building, developing, operating and regulating UAVs. Read more here.

Businesses have been quick to embrace the commercial potential of this new technology and drones are already being used in a wide variety of sectors. As well as revolutionising hazardous surveys and inspections they’re employed in the agriculture industry to supervise crops, in telecommunications to maintain equipment and boost broadcast signals, and in the media for all manner of filming and promotional purposes.

However, health and safety are where drones can have the biggest impact on people’s day to day lives. From those 76,000 drones expected to be flying in 2030, 36% are predicted to be employed by the public sector.

The current function as an ‘eye in the sky’ has lots of lifesaving benefits. They’ve been used extensively in disaster zones to provide real-time footage to responders and the Fire Service regularly fly drones to inspect and assess the damage – Mountain Rescue and the RNLI are also testing how UAVs can help to locate people lost in the wild or at sea. But, as technology improves with drones becoming capable of carrying heavier and heavier loads, the latest innovations focus on how they can be used to deliver essential medical equipment in an emergency.

These new developments are particularly important when it comes to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. This condition kills more than 300,000 people in Europe alone and can strike anyone, anywhere at any time. The only effective treatment is to use a defibrillator and fast action is vital – your chances of survival drop by 10% every minute after an attack. Therefore, if you’re in a remote area or a location that doesn’t have one installed nearby, your chances of survival are practically zero.

For this reason, a drone that can be deployed quickly and is capable of carrying a defibrillator is one of the industry’s main priorities. Tests have already been carried out in Sweden and show that a drone can reach patients an average of four times faster than an ambulance.

As you would expect, Martek is at the head of these new developments. Our Lifeline range of defibrillators are particularly suited to UAV delivery as they’re lightweight, durable and easy-to-use by non-medical personnel. We’re involved in some important tests that are going ahead very soon so watch this space for the results…

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the world’s biggest killer. Every year, it claims the lives of three million people worldwide and 140,000 in the UK alone, more than breast, prostate and lung cancer combined. Obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, high blood pressure and a cholesterol heavy diet can all be contributing factors, but a healthy lifestyle doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re free from risk. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is very different to a heart attack and it can strike anyone, anywhere at any time.

Continue reading “Young hearts run free?”

The snow outside may be pretty but we all know the kind of havoc that can be caused by a drop in temperature and severe wintery conditions. It’s not just transport and your heating bills that are likely to be affected, it could be your defibrillator too.

Continue reading “Make sure your defibrillator isn’t running cold”