Considering a defibrillator for your community?

A defibrillator is a life-saving medical device that is designed for use when someone suffers a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). For this reason, they are often found in local towns and villages across the country. Defibrillators provide peace of mind should anybody suddenly fall ill making them an invaluable addition to any local community.

If a member of the public suffers a sudden cardiac arrest, you must act in minutes as unfortunately the fatality rate if not is very high. Having an automatic external defibrillator (AED) in your local community can really make the difference between life and death. Familiarising yourself with where your nearest defibrillator is located allows you to identify one as quickly as possible when in an emergency. Next time you are taking a walk or driving through your local town, keep an eye out to see where your nearest defibrillator is kept.

Defibrillators are not only installed in local communities but can also found in schools, sports centres, offices and supermarkets. As cardiac arrests can occur at anytime and to anyone, it is important to have them available in as many public areas as possible in order to deliver effective emergency care should the worst happen.

Where should my defibrillator be stored?

Being easily able to identify your nearest defibrillator plays a huge part in its effectiveness. Not being able to find where one is installed slows down the time it takes to deliver care which can cost several crucial minutes. Storing them where they can be seen by everyone increases the chances of them being used on a patient. When storing a defibrillator it is important to consider the following:

• Will the defibrillator be easily accessible and visible?
• Is there CCTV near where the defibrillator will be stored?
• Will it be stored in an appropriate case?
• Are there any other defibrillators in the area?

If you are storing a defibrillator outside there are a number of factors to take into consideration. Storing a defibrillator outside leaves it open to the elements meaning you need to consider casing that can withstand severe wind and rain in order to keep it intact and ready for use.

On-going costs of a defibrillator

In order to keep a defibrillator functioning, there are a few small ongoing costs that are involved to ensure it is always ready for use. Deciding to have a ‘local community defibrillator pot’ for maintenance set aside is a fool proof way of keeping it fully functional. You may need cover the cost of the following:

• Electrode pads if they have been used or are out of date
• Cost of electric for the cabinet
• A new battery.

Insurance is another good option to consider when having a defibrillator installed in your local community. Covering your defibrillator for any damages or theft it is a great way to ensure you are covered should you ever need it.
Defibrillators do also all come with a warranty, so you are covered for usually between five and eight years depending on the manufacturer. This gives added peace of mind that should anything be wrong, you can get it resolved. To give an idea of how long it may be before parts may need replacing, pads for a defibrillator often have a shelf life of between two and five years and the batteries between four and seven years.

Do I need training to use a defibrillator?

All defibrillators are designed with user friendliness in mind meaning training is not essential. A medical professional or lay person could use a defibrillator should they need to thanks to verbal and visual guides that are given. All users are cleverly guided through how to use the defibrillator however, the resuscitation council UK strongly suggest training to get the most out of an AED.

The more familiar you are with a defibrillator, the more comfortable you will feel in an emergency. Learning how to place the defibrillator pads and how the AED delivers a shock are all steps that help increase the smoothness of using a defibrillator.

Who owns the defibrillator?

The ownership and responsibility of the defibrillator lies with community meaning onus is with them to ensure that it is maintained. Responsibilities would include checking it often enough to ensure it is in working order and that the defibrillator pads are in date. Community defibrillators would ideally have more than one guardian responsible for its upkeep as well as ensuring there is at least one person available to check it once a week.

What checks must I take for the upkeep of my defibrillator?

Checking your defibrillator is an important measure to take to ensure it is always ready for use. There are a few steps to follow which indicators that your AED is always ready to go. You should check the AED cabinet so that it is not damaged and that it opens easily and is not stiff. When checking the interior of the cabinet, you should ensure the internal light works and that there are not are signs of internal moisture that could damage the AED.

You should also check that the defibrillator has all of its indicators working, that there are two rescue pads, the pads are in date and the battery is charged.

See our own checklist here.

AED funding

The cost of a defibrillator can be quite significant, particularly when considering where they will be stored and their upkeep. Many communities have local charity days to raise money such as sponsorships and raffles however, you still may need to raise more funds. To raise money quicker, you can apply for a grant from companies such as Aviva and The National Lottery who can help with money for a community defibrillator. Trusts such as Community Heartbeat have also been established to make defibrillators as common as fire extinguishers so initiatives such as this are really helpful contacts to get in touch with to help with defibrillator funding.

Register your defibrillator

So that anyone in the UK can see where your defibrillator is located, it is a great idea to register yours on a UK wide defibrillator map. It means that if someone in the area has suffered a SCA, they can identify where their nearest defibrillator is located and help someone in an emergency. Doing this can be carried out with your local emergency services and is free. The more defibrillators on country wide maps, the more chance of a life being saved.

Key things to remember for a community defibrillator are as follows:

• Who will be responsible and are they are able to make weekly checks on the AED?
• Where will it be stored?
• Training is always favourable so that you are familiar with the defibrillator
• Ensure you can cover the costs of up keeping your AED

Get the word out about your new defibrillator in your area so that as many people as possible are able to use it should they need to

Take a look at our defibrillator FAQ's for more information.