AED Register

When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, they collapse and stop breathing normally. The heart is no longer efficiently pumping blood to vital organs in the body. The longer this person is left without CPR and defibrillation, the harder it is to restart their heart. This is where the community can make an extraordinary difference.

For every minute that we delay defibrillation, the chances of the person surviving a cardiac arrest decreases by 10%. So the early use of a defibrillator by members of the public can significantly increase a person’s chances of survival.

In the event of any emergency and after calling triple 000 your AED should always be collected and taken immediately to the patient. Some conditions may not appear immediately life-threatening, but may quickly deteriorate into a cardiac arrest. Having the AED on standby with the patient ensures it is readily available for use without delay.

No. If you notice that a person has collapsed, is not responding appropriately and not breathing normally (has stopped breathing altogether, is only gasping or making “funny noises”), immediately call triple 000 for an emergency ambulance. Always follow the directions of the SAAS Emergency Medical Dispatcher Support Officer (call-taker) and immediately send someone to get your AED. Start CPR without delay and the EMDSO will guide and support you through the whole process until the Paramedics arrive.

It’s important to know that simply attaching a defibrillator to a person who is not in cardiac arrest will not harm them. If you are in doubt, attach the pads, turn the machine on and follow the AED’s verbal instructions. If the person needs a shock, the AED will tell you. REMEMBER – do not stop performing CPR even if no AED shock is advised. Keep performing CPR until the Paramedics instruct you to stop and they are physically ready to take over.

No, unless a specific code, regulation or internal directive applies to your organisation. The SafeWork SA Code of Practice Fact Sheet states ‘an automated defibrillator (is advised) where there is a risk of electrocution or large numbers of members of the public are regularly in or around your workplace’ p10. Safe Work Australia’s National First Aid in the Workplace, Code of Practice states ‘Providing an automated external defibrillator can reduce the risk of fatality from cardiac arrest. It is a useful addition for workplaces. Automated external defibrillators are designed to be used by trained or untrained persons’ p12.

SAAS recommends semi-automatic and automatic devices (both routinely called AEDs). Manual defibrillators should only be used by an appropriately trained healthcare professional.

• It should be Therapeutic Goods Administration Australia (TGA) approved
• It should operate in accordance with current Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines
• Look for a device that is light weight and easily transportable
• Ensure it has a long life battery capable of multiple shocks and multiple resuscitations
• Your AED should be equipped with;
  • two sets of defibrillation pads
  • scissors
  • protective gloves
  • a razor
  • CPR mask/shield and a small towel

Your AED needs to be durable enough to withstand the environment it is to be placed in. So consider the environment in which you are likely to use it. Most AED’s will have an International Protection (IP) rating indicating the devices ability to withstand dust, water, extremes of temperature or mechanical impact.

Ideally an AED should be cable of being used on both adults and children. This consideration is essential when purchasing devices for childcare centres, schools, sporting venues and medical clinics. Some AED’s use a child “key” or different defibrillation electrode pads for children under 8 years of age.

AED’s that provide visual cues and verbal instructions on how to perform CPR and early defibrillation are particularly beneficial and reassuring to non-medically trained users.

AEDs and other related first aid items can be purchased from a variety of medical supply and first aid companies. SAAS does not sell any this equipment.

SAAS currently uses a combination of Phillips/Laerdal HeartStart and Cardiac Science defibrillators on operational ambulances. Our community CPS education programs use two popular community or public access AEDs, which are the Phillips/Laerdal HeartStart FRx & HeartStart First Aid/Onsite devices.

SAAS does not recommend any particular brand of AED.

Registering your automated external defibrillator (AED) enables participating emergency response agencies and the general community to know where your AED is located so that it can be found quickly if needed in a medical emergency. SAAS aims to promote the location of all publicly accessible AEDs in South Australia. To access detailed terms and conditions, please contact us.