Published on 20th June 2018
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!
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 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.
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 analyse 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.
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?