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How long is an AED warranty? How long are AED pads and batteries good for?

In addition to providing CPR training, CPR Seattle is a distributor of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). While CPR keeps the brain oxygenated in the event of sudden cardiac arrest, only an AED can restart the heart. With CPR alone, a victim has a 5% chance of surviving a cardiac event, if an AED is applied within the first two minutes of a collapse, the patient has an 80% chance of survival. Anyone can use an AED whether they are trained or not.

But like everything else, AEDs (and their electrode pads and batteries) become less reliable over time, requiring their replacement. AEDs themselves have warranties of a certain duration, and the pads and batteries have expiration dates which require them to be swapped out for new ones. But different models have different time periods for these, which may influence the type of AED you purchase. 

AED Warranties

An AED will come with a warranty for a given time period. This warranty usually covers defects from materials and workmanship. Damage or issues resulting from improper use, maintenance, accident or negligence are not covered in a warranty. The chart below lists AEDs and their respective warranty durations:

Manufacturer Philips Heartstart Heartsine Samaritan Cardiac Science Powerheart Zoll Defibtech Lifeline Physio Control Lifepak
Model Onsite FRx FR3 350/360 450 G3 Plus G5 G3 Pro Plus Pro Lifeline View ECG Express CR2 CR Plus 1000
Warranty 8 years 8 years 5 years 8 years 8 Years  7 Years  8 Years  7 Years  7 Years  5 Years  8 Years  8 Years  8 Years  5 Years  8 Years  8 Years  5 Years 

 

AED Electrode Pads


The electrodes, or "pads" of an AED are attached to a victim in order to deliver a shock to the heart. They are made of plastic, metal, and a conductive adhesive gel. 

The gel is the reason there are expiration/replacement dates on electrode pads. Over time, the chemicals in the gel begin to break down and the gel dries out. This means that the pads will lose adhesion and conductivity. They may not adhere to the victim's skin sufficiently, especially during CPR. Reduced conductivity may result in incorrect heart rhythm readings during the analysis phase as well as insufficient shock delivery.

Each set of AED pads will have an expiration date listed. The person or persons responsible for AED maintenance must be sure to replace the pads before the expiration date is reached. 

The chart below shows the various expiration times for electrode pads:

Manufacturer Philips Heartstart Heartsine Samaritan Cardiac Science Powerheart Zoll Defibtech Lifeline Physio Control Lifepak
Model Onsite FRx FR3 350/360 450 G3 Plus G5 G3 Pro Plus Pro Lifeline View ECG Express CR2 CR Plus 1000
Pad life 2 years 2 years 2 years 4 years 4 Years  2 Years  2 Years  2 Years  5 Years  2 or 5 Years  2 Years  2 Years  2 Years  2 Years  4 Years  2 Years  2 Years 


AED Batteries

Batteries for AEDs serve to hold electrical energy on standby for an extended period, in order to be ready for use at any time. They are lithium batteries and serve to charge the internal capacitor of an AED in order to deliver a shock to the victim's heart. As with AED pads, they also have expiration dates, as the energy stored in the AED diminishes over time.

AED batteries may come with one or more dates listed on them. There may be a date of manufacture, an expiration date, and/or an "install by" date.

Some batteries may require installation within a certain time period after manufacture. The expiration date usually governs the effective amount of time the battery can hold its charge before needing replacement. The "install by" date indicates how long a battery can remain uninstalled and still have the expiration date be valid.

Note that any time an AED is used to deliver a shock in an actual emergency, the batteries should be replaced as soon as possible. Dispose of lithium batteries correctly; they should never be placed in the trash. Seattle-area recycling resources include Call2Recycle, EcoLights, and Friendly Earth.

The chart below shows battery life for our AED examples:

Manufacturer Philips Heartstart Heartsine Samaritan Cardiac Science Powerheart Zoll Defibtech Lifeline Physio Control Lifepak
Model Onsite FRx FR3 350/360 450 G3 Plus G5 G3 Pro Plus Pro Lifeline View ECG Express CR2 CR Plus 1000
Battery life 4 years 4 years 3 years 4 years 4 Years  4 Years  4 Years  1 Years  5 Years  3 Years  5 or 7 Years  4 Years  4 Years  2 Years  4 Years  2 Years  4 Years 

 

Are you curious about what steps to take to implement an AED program at your workplace? Visit our Philips AED Program Checklist for more information, and see our AED FAQ for common questions concerning AED use. There are also many AED articles on our blog that cover topics such as "You now have an AED. But where should you put it?" and "AEDs and IP ratings: What are they and what do they mean?". Our sales office is available at 206-504-3280 Monday through Thursday from 8am - 5pm, and Fridays until 4:30pm.

 


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Published on January 29, 2020