It’s likely no surprise that a defibrillator is a serious financial investment. Communities fundraise for months to purchase and install a community AED device before a guardian takes over its care. Installing a defibrillator shows commitment to community health, giving a rescuer the best odds of saving a life in an emergency.
The ongoing costs of keeping a defibrillator in a rescue-ready condition often aren’t factored into the fundraising phase. While separately handling continuing fees might be better suited to your situation, the planning phase should still consider them. AEDs have a lifespan of up to ten years, and the funds invested in them can creep up over time. It’s just one of the reasons a defib might not be ready in an emergency.
Thankfully, you’re about to learn some of the ongoing costs of owning a defibrillator. Before you do, let’s quickly recap the setup costs involved.
There are four main costs to consider when installing a defibrillator.
Defibrillators are not cheap. Prices can reach thousands of pounds with different devices suitable for different situations. Some are ruggedised for outdoor installation. Some are designed for portability. Others are more suited to indoor locations. And when factoring in the cases, rescue packs, and device-specific features, it’s easy to understand how the purchase price can be higher than initially expected.
Depending on your needs, building owners can install defibrillators inside or outside. The cabinet within which the AED will be housed isn’t an inconsiderable amount of money. Installing it inside is simple enough. Somewhere highly visible with adequate signage is often enough. Outdoors is another matter. The devices need protection from rain and low temperatures and to be highly visible and secure. Whether you choose a custom-built cabinet or an off-the-shelf solution, this is a significant part of the upfront costs.
Installation isn’t free. Some electrical specialists offer discount rates for installing community defibrillators. Defibrillators typically don’t need a live power connection but should be in a temperature-controlled environment. The thermostatic heater, external light, and even the tracking system need consistent power. If you plan on using the Defib Ready tracking system, the latter won’t apply.
Defibrillators are simple to use. They’re straightforward devices designed for use in an emergency by anyone. Many will talk the rescuer through CPR and automatically deliver a shock at precisely the right moment. Many communities and businesses opt to train critical people within the installation building. High-quality training isn’t free, but community groups often receive reduced rates for in-house and online training options.
When choosing a defibrillator and having it installed, it’s easy to overlook the ongoing costs over the lifespan of an AED. Whilst they’ll be different for every installation, at least five costs must be accounted for when adopting a defib, with some being more significant than others. The essential costs are:
Consumables, including pads and batteries, need replacing regularly and represent the highest ongoing cost. Even without use, pads may require five refreshes over the defibrillator's lifetime, alongside at least two new batteries.
Defibrillators deliver a shock at the right moment to return the heart to a consistent rhythm. It must do so regardless of impedance, a measure of electrical resistance. In this case, between the pads and the heart. Over time, the adhesive breaks down at a chemical level, increasing impedance. The greater the impedance, the less effective the shock will be. The best connection to the patient is always possible by refreshing the pads before they expire.
A battery's ability to hold charge reduces over time for similar reasons. Defibrillator batteries are no different. They need to be in near-perfect condition at all times; otherwise, they risk not being able to deliver the required shock in a moment of need. External factors such as temperature and humidity can affect the lifespan, hence the need to heat exterior cabinets above ambient temperatures on cold days. Thankfully, most defibrillators will warn you of battery problems during regular tests.
That’s why defibrillator batteries are single-use. Even without use, owners must replace them regularly according to the manufacturer's schedule. When planning the finances of adopting a defib, look into the lifecycle of the device's batteries. Thankfully, manufacturers and online retailers are well-placed to tell you everything you need to know about consumable life spans and provide you with replacements.
Nothing remains perfect forever without the proper care. Defibrillator cabinets are no different. Regular cleaning, improved signage, lock repairs, heater replacement, and light bulb replacements all have a monetary value associated with them.
The price of each of these elements isn’t that significant compared to the cost of a defibrillator. Some, such as cleaning and changing a lightbulb, you’d be able to perform yourself. Others will require a qualified person to do this, adding to the cost. You may be able to find a provider who’s happy to do these five-minute jobs as part of a low ongoing maintenance fee or even a good samaritan in the community who’d do it for free.
If part of your defibrillator system is attached to a mains plug, it will need PAT testing for electrical safety at some point. PAT testing is a series of visual and electrical tests carried out by a qualified person to ensure that no damage is present to the cabling that connects the device to the power supply, amongst other safety tests. They typically aren’t required in the first two years after purchase but may be needed once a year from then onward.
Public access defibrillators are often installed on the exterior of a business or community hub. As such, the person responsible for health and safety will include any PAT testing needed in the regular pattern of checks. If you’re unsure whether your planned installation will need to be tested, speak to the retailer, installer or another qualified electrician.
Manufacturers continually improve software within a defibrillator and can add new features, better algorithms, and improved sensor functionality post-purchase. Manufacturers themselves update each device, requiring the defib to be sent away. Updates aren’t regular, but knowing about them is worthwhile.
Many provide the update service free, but you may have to cover the shipping costs. During the process, communities may hire a secondary defibrillator to keep coverage in place. Whilst both these costs are comparatively low compared to the others and maintaining defib presence is priceless, they should be factored in.
The appropriate time needed to care for a defibrillator should be accounted for in the fundraising phase. People connected to a community defibrillator typically volunteer their time, resulting in time not being fully considered. When distributing tasks amongst guardians and other stakeholders, it is still wise to think about time commitments for critical tasks.
But added up, and over the ten-year lifespan, it’s not an inconsiderable amount of time. Using a defibrillator management system, such as Defib ReadyDefib Ready, helps reduce the time needed to manage an AED by making the regular checks and community communications almost effortless thanks to its easy-to-use interface, intelligent reminders and tracking add-on.
Every second counts when someone is in cardiac arrest. Without defibrillation within a few minutes, the chances of survival fall drastically. With nearly one in three defibrillators not in a deployment-ready state at any given time, rescuers aren’t given the best possible chance to save a life. The cost of not keeping a defib ready could be a life.
When accounted for at the outset, the five costs highlighted here are not a reason to avoid adopting a defibrillator in your community. By keeping your defibrillator serviced over its lifetime, you’re contributing to the broader community's health care and giving every sufferer of sudden cardiac arrest a second chance at life.
It’s a commitment that the team here at Defib Ready applaud you for making.
