Louis Schneider 
AED defibrillator maintenance
Periodic preventive defibrillator maintenance
Most automatic external defibrillators perform daily or weekly self-tests. This lets the device know if it’s in good working order. Compared to its battery and internal software. However, the device does not detect expired or damaged electrodes. Above all, self-testing gives no guarantee that the device will correctly detect heart arrhythmias in the event of an intervention.
That’s why regular defibrillator maintenance is so important. Firstly, the owner or person in charge of the defibrillator must carry out regular visual checks. To ensure that no lights other than the AED operating indicator are flashing. As well as the validity of the electrodes available on the defibrillator.
Then, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, periodic maintenance is required to ensure that the device is working properly, thanks to simulation. Professionals carry out a simulation using appropriate measuring equipment. This simulation ensures that the device reacts correctly to detected anomalies. And that it sends out the right electrical intensity when delivering the electric shock.
Annual inspection
Swixed offers an annual inspection for external defibrillators, which includes:
- Testing general device functions
- Arrhythmia detection simulator test (coarse ventricular fibrillation (VFBC), fine ventricular fibrillation (VFBF), ventricular tachycardia (VTAC), atrial fibrillation (AFIB))
- ECG simulator test at different heart rates
- Simulator test of electric shock and measurement of the number of joules delivered
- Electrode control and functionality
- Check the battery and measure its charge level if possible.
- Data extraction where possible.
- Report writing. Indicating whether the values emitted by the device are within tolerances, and whether accessories and consumables are still functional and can remain so until the next inspection.
