Designed to allow non-medics or minimally trained individuals to save lives, an AED is easy to operate. By delivering an electric shock to the heart, an automated external defibrillator or AED helps a person to survive a cardiac arrest. A smart device, an AED will deliver an electric shock only when it is required. Also known as a defibrillator, an AED decides whether to deliver a shock or not after analyzing the rhythm of the heart and recognizing an abnormal rhythm. In order to restore the normal rhythm of the heart and increase the chances of a person’s survival, an AED is crucial in the first five minutes after a sudden cardiac arrest.
Unlike as depicted on medical TV shows, defibrillators or AEDs are lightweight, small and easy to use. About the size of a lunch box, automated external defibrillators have gluey electrode pads that are attached to the chest of the victim by the medical practitioners or other rescuers. If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to help restore the heartbeat of a cardiac arrest victim then recertified or refurbished AEDs are a great choice for you.
For most hospitals and individuals, cost is a major factor in the purchase of an automated external defibrillator. An attractive option for such people is a recertified or refurbished AED. Regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recertified or refurbished AEDs need to be thoroughly tested and certified so that they meet the same quality and performance standards as new automated external defibrillators.
The difference between new and recertified AEDs
Before we discuss the benefits of recertified AEDs, it is important to look at the difference between them and new AEDs. Obvious from the name, new AEDs are automated external defibrillators that have never been taken out of the box and put into service. Available with a warranty, the new AEDs come with new carrying case, batteries and pads. The warranty of a new AED depends on its manufacturer.
A cheaper alternative to new defibrillators, refurbished AEDs are used AEDs that have been put back on the market after being thoroughly tested and recertified. Generally, before they are put back on the market, refurbished AEDs are:
- Tested to ensure they pass the self-test process
- Attached to patient stimulator to ensure they respond properly
- Given new battery and electrode pads
- Updated with latest software
- Externally cleaned and inspected
The aforementioned process makes recertified or refurbished AEDs a reliable and durable automated external defibrillator option. Some of the recertified or refurbished AEDs available today have the ability to deliver a shock of up to 360 joules of energy, this is the highest shock any AED can generate. Additionally, these AEDs feature an ‘Ok’ indicator that shows the previous self-test was successful. Finally, recertified AEDs can store data for review.