Defibrillator Maintenance: A Deadly Oversight
- Pulse Defibs
- Jul 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 16
Installing a defibrillator is one of the most important and effective investments an organisation can make to create a safer environment. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that many of these life-saving devices are not rescue-ready when they're needed most.
A study published in the Resuscitation Journal found that of 6,021 defibrillators inspected, 59% were non-compliant. The most common reasons were depleted batteries, expired electrode pads, and poor storage conditions.
That's right, more than half of the defibrillators inspected did not meet expected standards.
The good news is that the majority of these issues are preventable. Simple routine inspections, combined with professional annual servicing, can help ensure a defibrillator remains functional, compliant, and ready to save lives when every second counts.
Resuscitation Journal study: https://www.resuscitationjournal.com/article/S0300-9572(24)00227-2/fulltext
Defibrillator Maintenance is a Common Oversight
Unfortunately, defibrillator maintenance is a common oversight and the consequences can be catastrophic, not only from a life-saving perspective, but also in terms of organisational liability.
Picture this:
You've installed a defibrillator and ticked the compliance box.
Weeks turn into months. Months turn into years.
Then, without warning, a staff member, customer, visitor, resident, or member of the public suffers a sudden cardiac arrest.
Someone retrieves the AED.
The power button is pressed.. Nothing happens.
The battery expired months ago.
The electrode pads are out of date.
Or an internal fault has gone undetected because the device has never been professionally tested.
The reality is that defibrillators are life-saving medical devices and, like any
critical equipment, they require maintenance to ensure they will perform when
needed. An AED that has not been properly maintained can put lives at risk
and expose your organisation to unnecessary safety and compliance concerns.
Compliance and Organisational Responsibility
Owning a defibrillator comes with an ongoing responsibility to ensure it is properly maintained and ready for use.
Device owners should maintain documented inspection and maintenance records to demonstrate that reasonable steps have been taken to keep their defibrillator operational.
An organisation's legal responsibilities are generally determined by broader principles of negligence, workplace health and safety legislation, occupiers' liability, and any specific AED legislation that applies in its state or territory. While the legal requirements vary depending on the circumstances, maintaining a defibrillator is an important part of demonstrating a commitment to safety and risk mitigation.
Documented maintenance records not only help ensure a defibrillator remains rescue-ready, but also assist organisations in meeting their compliance obligations. Providing confidence to staff, visitors, customers, and the wider community that the AED has been properly maintained and will be ready to perform if it is ever needed.
Can Defibrillator Maintenance Be Handled In-House, or Is It Best to Use a Professional?
The best approach isn't one or the other, it's both.
Together, regular in-house checks and professional servicing help ensure your defibrillator remains rescue-ready while demonstrating that your organisation has taken reasonable steps to meet its compliance obligations.
In-house:
Most modern AEDs perform automatic self-tests daily or weekly, with the results displayed on the device's status indicator. This indicator should be checked and documented regularly by the device owner or a nominated staff member.
While these self-tests are highly sophisticated, they are not a substitute for professional servicing.
Think of it like a car. Your dashboard may not be displaying any warning lights, but you still have it professionally serviced periodically because onboard diagnostics can't detect every developing issue or identify components that may need attention.
Further to this, routine in-house inspections, much like checking your oil, can be easily overlooked. Staff move on, responsibilities change, and before long, weeks can turn into months, and nobody knows when it was last checked or who is responsible.
Professional servicing:
Professional defibrillator servicing is conducted every twelve months using specialised biomedical testing equipment. Simulated heart rhythms are run through the defibrillator to verify that it is correctly analysing cardiac rhythms and advising a shock when required. The device's shock output is measured to confirm it is delivering within the required operating range.
The defibrillator is also inspected for faults, software updates, and overall functionality. Electrode pad and battery expiry dates are verified, and the battery voltage is tested to assess whether remaining capacity is sufficient and confirm the device is ready for use. The condition of the storage unit, signage, and accessories such as prep-kits is also checked.
Following servicing, the defibrillator is tagged with the service date, next scheduled service date, and service outcome. A detailed compliance report is generated and securely stored, providing a complete maintenance record for your organisation.
Professional servicing is particularly well suited to organisations managing multiple defibrillators across different locations, providing a scalable maintenance solution that keeps every device rescue-ready while delivering consistent standards, reporting, and compliance across an entire network.
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