AED Brands Blog

Can Extreme Cold Affect an AED?

 

An AED is a device with the ability to save lives! Similar to other electronic devices, an AED should not be left in temperatures below 32°F or above 122°F because of the computer-like parts it contains. Since we are in the coldest months of the year, it is very common for AED left out in the cold to start beeping because they have become too cold. Low temperatures can adversely affect the functionality of the AED pads as well as the electronic components of the device.

 

During the colder months we receive a handful of calls about a beeping device in which all accessories are up-to-date and the AED is still under warranty. In these situations, we advise our customers to bring the device indoors to thaw the accessories out. If this does not help, the manufacturers tech support will need to be called. While most AEDs are made for rough use and can withstand the elements, it’s still important to keep your device within the recommended temperature range provided by the manufacturer. To avoid your AED being unprepared for a rescue:

 

• Store your AED inside for the night
• DO NOT KEEP YOUR AED IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR!
• If you do not have a temperature-controlled environment and you are looking for a cabinet solution, AED Brands now has a line of cabinets that can keep your AED warm or cool (depending on your environment) and prepared for a rescue!

 

If you still have questions about your AED, you can always leave us a comment, give us a call at 800-580-1375, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

How do you dispose of old AED supplies?

Do you find that when replacing your AED supplies you are unsure how to dispose of the old supplies? Your AED, and its accessories, should be disposed of according to state and federal guidelines, through an authorized recycling facility. We’ll break down what needs to happen to each supply…

 

• AED electrodes (or pads)

AED electrodes are made of non-hazardous material and can be simply disposed of in a trash can like regular waste.

 

• AED Batteries

AED batteries are considered hazardous waste material – they contain lithium sulfur dioxide – and need to be recycled.   When lithium batteries are mistakenly thrown away, pressure or heat can cause them to spark and start extremely dangerous fires¹. Due to this, ground transportation must be used when shipping batteries to have them recycled.

 

• AEDs

AEDs are electronic devices that contain delicate parts like circuit boards and must be properly recycled.  Give us a call at (800) 580-1375 and we can direct you to the proper place to send your AED to be recycled.

 

 

“How do I properly recycle my batteries and AED?” is a great and common question! You can contact your local emergency medical services, contact the AED manufacturer, or use national recycling programs. Here are some you can look into:

 

• Cardiac Life Recycle Program
• Call 2 Recycle
• Battery Recyclers Of America
• TerraCycle
• Recycling Organizations by State

 

 

We commend you for your effort to keep our earth clean and green! If you have any questions about AED donations, old but not expired AED supplies, or a question about the items you plan on recycling, give us a call at (800) 580-1375, leave us a comment down below, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

 

Sources

1 https://www.americandisposal.com/blog/lithium-ion-batteries

 

 

 

Can my furry friend become a victim of SCA?

 

Sudden Cardiac Arrest can happen to anyone and anytime – approximately 356,000 people a year die from this¹. That’s more than 1,000 per day! Did you know that even your furry friends can also fall victim to SCA? Less than ten percent of animals ever recover from such an event, and most of these animals go into cardiac arrest when under anesthesia². To protect your pet, learn how to identify early signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest. Symptoms are similar to humans and your preparedness will be key to their survival.

 

Signs and symptoms include²:

• Sudden collapse
• Weak pulse (check by using your finger on the inside of the thigh, just above the knee)
• No reflexes of any kind

 

If you believe your pet may be experiencing Sudden Cardiac Arrest you will need to be prepared to administer CPR. It isn’t much different than CPR for a human.

 

Steps to animal CPR³:

• Clear their airway
• Begin chest compressions
  1. Give chest compressions to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees
  2. Depth of compressions need to be one-third to one-half of the chest width, with the animal laying on its side
  3. Use one had for small animals, and two for medium to large animals.
• Give rescue breaths to their snout at a rate of 30-2 (30 compressions and then 2 rescue breaths)
• Perform CPR in 2-minute cycles (checking to see if breathing has resumed)

 

Here is a video to help demonstrate!

 

Every life is precious, even our furry friends! There is no such thing as an ambulance to pick up your beloved pet, should they ever need medical attention. YOU are their first responder. The CPR you give them can buy them more time until you make it to a vet. Educate yourself and be prepared! If you have any questions about CPR give us a call at 855-873-8503, leave us a comment down below, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

 

 

Sources

1 http://www.sca-aware.org/sca-news/aha-releases-latest-statistics-on-sudden-cardiac-arrest

2 https://www.diamondbackdrugs.com/cardiac-arrest-in-dogs-what-you-need-to-know/

3 https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/120715g.aspx

 

Do unopened accessories expire?

 

If you manage an Automated External Defibrillator, you know that pads have an expiration date for the following reasons:

 

• The adhesive gel that is necessary to make good contact with the victim’s skin dries out overtime. If the gel dries out, the pads will not remain on the victim while CPR is being administered and reduces the chances that the AED will be able to provide an accurate analysis.
• The conductive material that connects the pads to their cords and is necessary to send electrical shock to the victim’s heart corrodes overtime. If the conductive material corrodes, the pads will not be able to send a shock to the victim.

 

One recurring question we get asked is, “Why do AED pads have expiration dates?” Many of our customers do not understand why these medical items should come with a use-by date. But what if the accessories are unopened? Do they still need to be replaced?

 

Let us ask you a question. Would you drink expired milk that is unopened? Of course not!  The same principle holds true for AED Pads.  If you don’t follow the date on unopened pads, you may go to use your AED during an emergency and cost someone their life. We have had customers who call with heart wrenching stories that could have easily been lifesaving stories, but they were depending on expired accessories. We hope you do not make the same mistake. Make sure that you keep your supplies up-to-date so that they can be used to perform their lifesaving abilities.

 

If you still have questions about your AED, or supplies, you can always leave us a comment, give us a call at 800-580-1375, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

How to stand up to seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

When we think of the holiday season, we often think of family time, fun activities, and yummy food – shopping stress, financial burden, and simply being overwhelmed often come to mind too.  The holiday season is a magical time for some, but for 10 million¹ people in the United States, the holiday season is when the “Winter Blues” comes to town. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs during a specific time of year. SAD is thought to be caused by a few different things¹:

 

1) Increased melatonin production due to shorter and darker winter days

2) Uncontrolled serotonin levels

3) Vitamin D insufficiency

 

People that suffer from SAD often feel hopeless, exhausted, lethargic, fatigued, irritable, unsociable, have an increased appetite, and in extreme cases, suicidal.  A few ways to combat the symptoms of SAD are²:

 

• Time in the sun or light therapy
• Exercise regularly
• Limit alcohol
• Learn to say “no” if you’re not feeling up to something
• Get the right amount of sleep
• Spend time with ones you love or volunteer in your community

 

Though the holidays do present challenging demands, take time to think about all the blessings life is filled with! Find out more about SAD by doing your own research and checking your facts. If you believe that you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) please speak with your doctor. May your holidays be filled with good health and happiness.

 

Sources:

1 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder

2 https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/holiday-blues

October: Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month

 

October is popularly known as the month for spooky stories, lots of candy, dressing up, and other fun fall activities. However, October is also Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month. Sudden Cardiac Arrest, or SCA, is the unexpected loss of the heart function, resulting in the loss of effective blood flow. SCA is usually caused by an electrical disturbance in the heart.  If left untreated by defibrillation, SCA results in death. We can participate in this month by doing one of the five following things:

 

 

1. Learn what the Chain of Survival is

• You can learn of the Chain of Survival by visiting our Resource Center!

 

2. Get CPR and AED certified

• We offer classes on our website! Schedule a class today!

 

3. Ask your boss if your office has an AED, and if not why

• Learn how to perform a site assessment by visiting our Resource Center!

 

4. Ensure an emergency plan is in place at your child’s school, church, rec sports, etc.

• Visit our AED Laws page to find out if an AED is mandatory for your location.

 

5. Practice your emergency plan at work and home

• Learn the essentials of an emergency plan by visiting our Resource Center!

 

Take part in Sudden Cardiac Arrest month and help make a difference! If you still have questions regarding SCA or your AED, give us a call at 800-580-1375, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com.

 

What happens when an AED reaches the end of the warranty?

A warranty period specifies the time in which the manufacture expects the unit to function properly. Once the AED has passed this period, the value and reliability of your AED is unknown. Your AED will no longer have the latest in technological advances and innovative features.

 

If you take the chance and keep your AED that has an expired warranty, it may even cost you more to buy supplies for the device as opposed to purchasing a new one. Even if you are currently able to find the parts for your AED, certain parts may be phased out over time, which limits your ability to keep your AED rescue ready. When your AED nears the end of its warranty, give us a call.  We often run promotions for upgrades to the latest technology.

 

If you still have questions regarding the warranty on your AED, give us a call! Our qualified reps can help you determine whether your older device should be replaced. We also offer trade-in credits for older models! For a free consultation, call us at 800-580-1375, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com.

Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How. – Learn Life Saving Skills

September is National Preparedness Month, and disasters can happen anywhere at any time. Learn a lifesaving skill this month in order to prepare yourself!

 

Find out what classes could be accessible to your family, friends, business, church, etc.

 

1. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class – This type of program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness. They teach skills that you can rely on during disaster situations through hands-on practice. Find a class near you!

 

2. CPR & First Aid Training class – Learn how to save a life through our program that educates your facility on AED usage, first aid, and CPR! Schedule a class today!

 

3. American Heart Association (AHA) online class – Find many different convenient classes to take from the comfort of your own computer! Classes range from CPR and AED classes to Bloodborne Pathogens classes. Find a course that will help you save a life, today!

 

 

If you have questions about AED usage and CPR leave us a comment, give us a call at 855-873-8503, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

 

 

Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How. – Make and Practice Your Plan

Disaster can strike at any time and you can be prepared! Since September is National Preparedness Month, make and practice your plan with your family.

 

 

Gather together and ask yourselves these important questions:

 

1. How will you know when an emergency strikes?

Make sure all family members with a smartphone have Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) on their device. The alerts you should have on your phone are:

• Extreme Weather Alerts (Download weather app)
• Amber Alerts (Enable setting on device)
• Presidential Alerts (Download IPAWS app)

 

 

2. Where will you go during an emergency?

The safest places to go can differ depending on what type of emergency you are dealing with. You’ll want to be well informed about what shelter to take for each emergency. If you are in need of the help from a mass care shelter you can find your nearest one by texting SHELTER and your zip code to 43362 (4FEMA) or visiting DisasterAssistance.gov

 

 

3. How will you safely evacuate during an emergency?

Know what types of disasters are likely in your community and learn the local evacuation plans for each disaster. Familiarize yourself with alternate routes out of your area and be sure to follow the instructions of local officials.

 

When you become an owner of an AED, you must make and practice a plan to follow during emergencies. Just like you prepare your home with a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, and other emergency supplies you need to prepare your AED. AccuTrack is a program that will keep you and your AED prepared for an emergency. You wouldn’t let your emergency supplies for your home expire. Similarly, AccuTrack helps keep you accountable so that your AED supplies don’t become expired. To learn more about AccuTrack visit our website by following the link below! If you have  questions about AccuTrack leave us a comment, give us a call at 855-873-8503, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

 

https://www.aedbrands.com/services/program-management

 

 

Why should pads/electrodes always be plugged into an AED?

If you have an AED (a portable defibrillator), you should know there are maintenance issues that need to be addressed. One of these issues is the importance of the AED pads (electrodes) and why they need to stay connected to your device. A defibrillator is only functional if its components are up-to-date and the pads are plugged into the device at all times. In the event of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), you only have 10 minutes to save someone’s life – that includes the time it takes you to assess the victim, grab the AED, call 911, connect the victim to the AED, and begin CPR.

 

By keeping the pads plugged into the AED, you will save time in an emergency response. If the pads are not connected to the AED, the device is not rescue ready. By keeping the pads connected to the device, you ensure that your Automated External Defibrillator (AED) will be ready to go when there is a victim of SCA. In addition, many AEDs check for connected pads in a routine self-test. If pads are not plugged into the device, the AED will fail the self-test and it will not be rescue ready.

 

Some older AEDs do not have pre-connected pads, requiring the responder to connect the pads during a cardiac emergency.  If you have an older device if you have questions about your AED leave us a comment, give us a call at 855-873-8503, or email us at customerservice@aedbrands.com

 

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