Learn to Maintain Your Defibrillator Battery: What You Need to Know
A defibrillator battery is a crucial component of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Modern AED batteries are designed to power a device for 2 to 7 years in standby mode for its battery life. The good news: it’s easy! This blog post will show you how to maintain and replace your defibrillator battery with just a few simple steps.
History of Defibrillator Battery
The first portable AED was invented by Dr. Frank Pantridge in 1967. It was a defibrillator with an internal battery that weighed 62 pounds and cost $8000 USD in 1970’s dollars. His first design was powered by a car battery which obviously limited the portability of the AED. That changed when in 1973 when Cardiac Science invented the first AED that could be powered by a rechargeable battery but with limited battery life.
Modern AED batteries are now lithium-ion and store enough energy to power the AED in standby mode usually for years. The stand-by-mode length of the AED is specified by each AED manufacturer and some models have a choice of different lengths the battery is good for.
Defibrillator Battery Maintenance
With modern AED devices, the maintenance of a defibrillator battery is really easy. There are few things that will need to be done on a regular basis:
- Check the manufacturer’s recommended service check schedule for the exact brand and model of the devices you own. Most recommend monthly during your AED readiness checks.
- Use an AED management tool or software like our AEDMD software to automate most of your often overlooked AED compliance items.
- Monitor and track the expiration dates of your electrode pads and battery. Our AEDMD Management Software will automate that for you.
Buy Original OEM AED Batteries
AED batteries are a crucial part of every defibrillator. They power the machines allowing them to save people victims of sudden cardiac arrest. It is extremely important to purchase the right battery for your AED and to only purchase original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement batteries. There are companies that sell battery replacements that are knock-off items or from a secondary market. At AEDUSA we only sell new batteries and pads directly from the manufacturer.
How Long Do AED Batteries Last?
A typical battery lasts 2-5 years, depending on the model and manufacturer but some defibrillators have specialized 7-year batteries available for purchase. Every battery has an expiration date although that expiration date is not always easy to determine. For this explanation, we will assume that most AED batteries do clearly display an expiration date. The following AED’s need a little more explanation to understand how to determine if your battery is expired:
Philips AEDs
The Philips Onsite AED and the FRx both share the same battery model. The Philips battery for the HeartStart Onsite HS1 AED and the FRx model both carry a 4-year Standby life (life while installed in the AED and in standby mode) and 5-year shelf life (new and uninstalled in AED).
The Philips HeartStart M5070a delivers over 200 shocks or 4 hours of patient monitoring.
Philips AEDs typically last four years after installation keeping the equipment ready for use and performing mission-critical self-tests. However, using the AED in an emergency rescue or training activity will shorten its lifespan.
Expiration Date (How to determine your expiration date?)
The Philips AED battery M5070a does not display an “Expiration Date” on the battery but instead displays an “Install Before” date.
Date Battery is Installed
It is very important to record the date you install your Philips battery into your AED for service. When the battery is installed in the device you have 4 years from that date until the battery expires. *Our free AED management software will make managing one or any number of AEDs you own, simple and easy.
Shelf Life
The “Install Before” date represents the Shelf Life of the battery (new and uninstalled in an AED). This date is typically 5 years from the date of purchase. For example, if the “Install Before” date was 2023-05 you could store the battery and safely insert it in your AED during May 2023 to start your 4-year use of the battery giving you an expiration date of May 2027.
Cardiac Science AED’s
How to determine your expiration date?
Knowing when to change both of the Cardiac Science batteries for the G5 or G3 can be a little confusing. Both the Powerheart G5 battery XBTAED001A and the G3 battery 9146-302 do not display an “Expiration Date” on the battery but instead display a “Manufactured on Date”.
Date Battery is Installed
It is very important to record the date you install the battery into your Cardiac Science AED for service. When the battery is installed in the device you have 4 years from that date until the battery expires. *Our free AED management software will make managing one or any number of AEDs you own, simple and easy.
Shelf Life
The battery has a 5-year shelf life (New and Uninstalled) calculated from the “Manufactured on Date”. For example, if the “Manufactured on Date” was 2018-05 you could store the battery and safely insert it in your AED to start your 4-year use of the battery anytime until 2023-05.
Can You Recharge an AED Battery?
Most public access AED use batteries that are not rechargeable. You need to make sure your battery model clearly states it is rechargeable or not. Typically the advanced life support (ALS) defibrillators designed for first responders and EMS are the more advanced AED’s that utilize rechargeable batteries.
Wide Selection of AED Battery Replacements
We recommend replacing AED batteries well in advance of the expiration dates for your particular AED’s. Our AEDMD management system will make sure you are notified in advance and replenished in advance of your expiration dates for all the following brands of AED’s:
Other People Asked Questions.
How long does a defibrillator battery last?
From 2 to 7 years and specific to the AED brand and model.
How do you change a battery in a defibrillator?
Almost all modern AED’s have batteries that are extremely easy to replace and require no training to figure out how to do it. Simply click the battery release remove the battery. Replace with a new and press until the battery clicks into place.
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