How Often Do AED Pads Need to be Replaced? A Quick Guide

AED devices are quite important, but only in the right condition. Routine maintenance and the regular installation of AED pads and batteries are a necessity. But what exactly are AED pads? Let's take a look.

How Often Do AED Pads Need to be Replaced? A Quick Guide

If you have an AED device and have not been maintaining it, you might have noticed that the AED pads seem to be losing their conductivity. This is not due to machine malfunction but simply because the AED pads are dead. Dead AED pads are not able to provide a shock to the patient, which means that it is not capable of reviving the patient.

How Often Should AED Pads Be Replaced?

Studies show that AED pads should be replaced every two to five years. But this does not mean that if your AED is older than five years, it is already dead. If the AED is already in its 5th year but has never been used, or its pads have not been used, then you should replace the AED pads as soon as possible.

Even if you have been maintaining your AED, you should still check the pads' condition regularly. You can easily check if the pads are still able to conduct electricity or not by using a continuity tester.

If the pads are not able to conduct electricity anymore, it is time to replace them.

What Happens If You Neglect to Replace AED Pads?

1 - Incorrect Readings

If you neglect to replace your AED pads, there is a risk that the pads will no longer be able to conduct electricity. Moreover, your AED will be incapable of providing a shock to the patient. This means that when the AED is used on a patient, the AED will not be able to give an accurate reading.

2 - Diminishing Shock Efficiency

An AED that has already been used for too long will definitely not be able to provide the best possible shock to the patient. The regular replacements of pads are not only meant to keep the AED in top condition but also to assure that the patient will always get the best possible shock when needed.

3 - Harm to the Patient

One of the major reasons why your AED will no longer be able to provide a shock to the patient is because it does not have sufficient pads to be used in emergency situations. This is because the pads will wear out over time and cannot be used for every single emergency. If you have neglected the replacement of your AED pads, there is a high risk that your AED will not be able to provide a shock to the patient when needed. This can actually do harm to the patient.

Conclusion

The best thing you can do if your medical device begins to malfunction is to immediately replace it. If your AED has been used for too long without replacing the pads, you should also immediately replace them. It is not wise to try to repair the device because you might accidentally worsen the situation.

If you need help with AED maintenance, come to Restart the Heart. We supply AED pads and batteries for all brands.