AED’s can make the difference between life or death. Having an AED saves precious time and gives a victim of sudden cardiac arrest the best chance of life.

While all AED’s do the same thing, they can vary greatly in price and features. We will discuss what you need to know to decide which AED is the best fit for you, your school, church, or business.

Review of the Top FDA Approved AED’s in 2023:

We have selected the top 7 AED’s on the U.S. Market. These are chosen because they are the only FDA approved AED’s on the market:

• Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 AED
• Defibtech Lifeline AED
• HeartSine Samaritan Pad 350
• Zoll AED Plus

Philips AED’s: We will still review these, because they have a great product. However, there have been significant delays on restocking these since 2020. They should not be considered unless you know they are available and you can get accessories with them.

• Philips FR3 AED
• Phillips Heartstart Frx AED
• Physio-Control Lifepak CR2

Cardiac Science Powerheart® G5 AED

The Powerheart G5 is ideal for public access or first responders. The Powerheart was the first FDA approved AED with a fully automatic shock delivery, dual-language capabilities, changeable increasing energy, and rapid shock times. It is unique in that once turned on it is ready to deliver a shock within 10 seconds. Meanwhile other AED’s take more time to charge prior to being able to shock. 

This AED was designed to meet the needs of first responders but it is also simple enough to be used by anyone. The Powerheart G5 is priced at $1,920.00 and is well worth your investment.

 Defibtech Lifeline AED

The Defibtech Lifeline AED is ever popular with fire departments and first responders. It has a clean, non intimidating, straightforward design. The Defibtech is a durable, reliable, and effective AED. You should have no doubts that this AED is capable of operating in any environment, thanks to its resilient and simplistic design.

This AED features precise and clear voice prompts that will walk users through each step of using the AED. Some AED’s can seem a bit intimidating to use due to their intricate designs, but this isn’t the case with the Lifeline AED from Defibtech.

The Defibtech Lifeline weighs 4.4lbs and is lightweight, weighing less than most AED’s. The AED is low maintenance and performs daily self tests to ensure its functionality and indicates it is in working order with an indication light. The Defibtech Lifeline is the most inexpensive AED retailing for $1,315.

HeartSine® Samaritan® PAD 350P

The HeartSine Samaritan PAD 350P is meant to be a simple, compact, and effective AED that’s designed to offer every single thing that one would expect from a high-end AED. This is the AED we most often recommend to people looking for an AED for their home, church, or workplace. 

The HeartSine AED is the most user friendly AED on the market. The HeartSine offers real-time coaching which will walk anyone through the steps to use the machine. The design revolves around two buttons: one button to turn on and one button to shock. This AED is lightweight and has a very small footprint making it easy to place in any public location or to carry for travel. It’s reasonably priced at $1350 and offers a warranty period of up to 8 years, the maximum of any AED. 

 Physio-Control LIFEPAK® CR2

The Physio-Control Lifepak CR2 features simple graphics and voice instructions. This AED is most used by schools and churches due to its dual language functionality. This easy to use device is meant to used by those with little to no medical experience, also making it a perfect AED to keep in your school or church.

The LIFEPAK connects to WiFi to record and report data as the AED is in use. Additionally, the Physio Control LIFEPAK CR2 Defibrillator is the only AED that enables CPR compressions during the heart rhythm analysis process. Every minute a patient does not have hands on care decreases their likelihood of survival. This unique feature allows for maximum hands on time.

The Lifepak CR2 has a cost of $1,895 and includes an 8 year warranty.

Zoll AED Plus

The Zoll AED Plus is undoubtedly one of the best products in its class. It truly raises the bar for AEDs as a whole thanks to their intuitive design and is popular amongst institutions that can afford its higher price tag.

This AED features an IP55 rating which means it has the ability to withstand challenging conditions such as extreme heights or temperature. This is important for people working in rural settings, camps, or traveling in the outdoors with an AED.

This AED comes with real-time CPR assistance that guides users through the entire process and provides actual feedback through which one can determine what they’re doing wrong and what they can do to fix it. The pads and batteries of the Zoll AED Plus are rated to have a shelf-life of 5 years, and the warranty of the Zoll AED Plus itself can be up to 7 years.

This AED is priced at $1999, and it’s slightly heavier than others at a weight of 6.7lbs, but this is to be expected considering its feature-rich design.

Philips FR3 AED

The HeartStart FR3 is one of the most technologically advanced AEDs and is semi-automatic. This AED is recommended for medical professionals and features advanced ECG guidance. This AED is not for use by lay responders.

A major highlight of the HeartStart FR3 is that it’s small and lightweight, weighing in at 3.8 lbs. Its compact size makes it one of the best choices to use in tight situations where a swift and effective response is critical to saving a life. The Heartstart FR3 has a high IP rating, meaning it will operate effectively even in harsh environments. 

The price tag for this AED is $2,990. This is the most expensive AED we sell, and you definitely get what you pay for in this AED designed for advanced responders..

Philips HeartStart FRx AED

The Phillips HeartStart FRx AED is another great product designed to be simple and effective.  The Philips HeartStart FRx defibrillator helps save lives by providing guidance as users administer an electric shock through the chest to the heart of patients during cardiac emergencies. This AED features a higher IP rating then the Phillips Onsite AED and is more ideal for users familiar with it or people traveling with an AED.

Unfortunately Phillips Heartstart FRx and some of its accessories are indefinitely backordered. 

Philips HeartStart OnSite AED

Philips designed the HeartStart Onsite AED for the ‘ordinary person in the extraordinary moment’ and this description flawlessly captures the essence of this AED because, even with absolutely zero training with AEDs, you can effectively use this device by following the prompts.

We all love when electronics come with the batteries included and the Philips Heartstart delivers! The Heartstart comes ready for use with a battery pre-installed and is immediately ready to be reused. After turning the AED on, users are guided via voice instructions giving step by step directions and automatically detecting when the steps are completed.

The device itself is fairly small and comes with a case to make it easily portable. This AED is priced competitively at $1,470 and comes with a considerable warranty period of 8 years, starting from the date of shipment. 

Conclusion

Any of the AED’s above are good options that we stand behind. Depending on your location and experience level you can narrow down the few that may be a good fit for you. If you aren’t sure what’s best for you still, please get in touch and we’re happy to discuss the differences.

If you skipped to the end of the article because its TL;DR (too long, didn’t read) and want to know what to buy… We recommend the HeartSine Samaritan AED to 90% of people and it would probably be a great fit for you too!

 

 

AED Program Management Explained

How Much is AED Program Management?

What Accessories do you need with an AED?

There are many AED accessories out there, but you may or may not need any depending on your situation. Generally, AED’s come with everything you need to use it when it’s purchased. However, if you are working in a rural area, working with children, in a public setting, there may be additional accessories needed.

Soft Carrying Case

The main accessory that usually comes with an AED is a soft carrying case. It is unlikely that you would need to purchase a case for your AED.  A soft carry case usually does the job for most people. However, there are hard cases, similar to pelican cases, that you can put an AED in if you are traveling or work in an environment like a water park where you are a little more worried about water affecting your AED. 

Wall Cabinets

Another option for storage is a wall cabinet. The wall cabinets are great, especially if you work in an office. However, if you are getting and AED for your home or car then a wall cabinet would not be helpful. However, the majority of AED’s are purchased by living facilities, offices, churches, schools where a wall cabinet is going to be a standard accessory.

Wall cabinets range in price from $139-$229 depending on if you want features like an alarm or various signage. The most basic cabinet is usually sufficient and can be viewed here.

Rescue Kits

If you are purchasing a wall cabinet for your AED, this is a great place to add on some additional life saving supplies. First Responder kits come in little pouches and include a razor, gloves, face mask, maybe some wipes, and a few other little things.  We highly recommend these kits because they go hand in hand with use of an AED. You should not be doing any kind of a medical procedure or first aid on somebody without gloves.

Additionally, when you go to do CPR and or apply an AED you need to be working on a bare chest. Therefore, having scissors is super handy to remove bras and clothing. The included razor may also be necessary for guys who have a lot of hair on their chest and otherwise could not have the AED pads adhered to them.

If you are trained in CPR and you want to give breaths to the person- everything you need is in a CPR/AED rescue kit and retails around $29.

AED Signs, Decals, and Posters

If you invest in an AED, you want to make sure that people can find the AED and use it in the event of an emergency. AED signs or decals can be positioned to place next to the AED. Additionally posters can show how to perform CPR for somebody who’s untrained.

The most commonly purchased AED accessory is an AED wall sign. These are fairly inexpensive at $14 and easy to install.

AED Program Management

AED maintenance programs are essential to your organization because they free you from the burden of manually keeping track of your AED maintenance schedule. AED Source offers program management that automates the AED management process. These are some of the benefits of having an AED maintenance plan in place:

• Maintaining quality control even if you have multiple defibrillator machines spread out in different locations
• Ensuring that your AEDs are properly functioning over the months and years. This could make a crucial impact during emergency circumstances when you need to provide basic medical assistance to cardiac patients.
• Facing auditors confidently by presenting them with a detailed report that you can generate conveniently through our program
• Staying covered by the Good Samaritan laws of your state
• Transitioning AED duties easily to new AED managers through the proper documentation recorded by the program

Program Management is $179 a year and ensures your AED is in compliance. AED’s purchased through AED Source are given this software for free for the first year.

Pediatric Pads

Most AED’s come with adult pads, but need to have pediatric pads purchased separately. Pediatric Pads deliver less electricity to shock a childs heart than adult pads do. Pads are specific to each AED and need to be the same brand and type. You can search for pediatric pads by brand here.

Additionally, pads are single use. If your AED is used often, you will want to have additional pads on hand. Pads vary in price (by brand) from $55-$500 a set.

Batteries

When an AED delivers a shock, it gets its power from the battery. Most batteries can operate shocking a victim every few minutes for 4-8 hours. This is more than enough for a single use where individuals have quick access to EMS. However, if you are in an area where EMS access may be delayed, having additional batteries can be useful. Furthermore, if you are in a facility that frequently uses an AED, you will want to replace the battery after each use and ensure a fresh battery.

Batteries are brand specific and not interchangeable. These vary in price from $180-$300.

Conclusion

At a minimum we believe a basic cabinet, first responder kit, and AED program management are your three must have accessories. If you have questions about what accessories you should get or which ones are appropriate for your situation feel free to send us your questions. 

Okay, let’s shoot straight here. We aren’t trying to scare anyone off from buying an AED by talking about the ‘hidden costs.’ AED’s are often more affordable than people think even with all considerations taken. However, similar to buying a car- if you haven’t done it before you might not realize the additional purchases that come along with a car. By all means, you still benefit from purchasing the item however it’s helpful to be prepared and able to make the purchase knowledgeably. You wouldn’t want a car without wheels and you probably don’t want an AED without the pads.

The Hidden Cost of AEDs   

Here’s what people do not realize- when you buy an AED the AED usually comes with pads and batteries that are required for it to operate. You are set for awhile. However, batteries and pads are parts that have an expiration date usually 2-5 years after purchase depending on the AED. 

If you buy an AED because it was the cheapest, but the pads and batteries need to be replaced every two years over the course of eight years (the typical length of a warranty) you might actually be paying more for that product. Be sure to look at more than the cost of the AED but the cost of replacement pads and batteries. This can be exhausting, but we’ve already done the work for you. View our AED comparison chart here.

Cost of Accessories

Most people buy more than just an AED. A standard accessory, that we highly recommend, is a cabinet that you can put it on a wall. AED cabinets cost anywhere from about $120 to $250. The cost depends on what you get and what kind of bells and whistles you want on it. You can view our curated selection of cabinets here.  

Additional accessories that makes sense to be stored with an AED are First Aid supplies. One that we recommend for Public Spaces is a ‘Bleeding Control’ kit. These kits will include the necessary items to stop bleeding emergencies.

A first responder kit is another great accessory. It’s a very practical kit that is usually contained in a small nylon pouch. Included are scissors, gloves, and a mask to do breathes.

There are a lot of different types of accessories that are available when you purchase an AED. More than likely you are going to want to purchase some of those as they can aid in the use of the AED. 

Replacement Parts

Sometimes it is prudent to purchase replacement parts, such as batteries and pads, ahead of time. For example, facilities who routinely use their AED will want to have replacement parts on hand so their unit is not rendered inoperable from the time it’s used until replacement parts come in. This is most common in rehabilitation facilities or assisted living facilities. Other people that are traveling remotely or far away from resupply opportunities, purchase replacement parts for the event they need to use their AED.

It’s important to note that these items are sold with expiration dates based on when they were manufactured, not purchased. This is similar to carseats with an 8 year period of use before they expire. If the car seat was manufactured in 2015, it expires in 2023 regardless if it was purchased in 2015 or 2020 and regardless of use.

Program Management 

Lastly, a final cost every AED owner should consider in ‘Program Management.’ Every AED that is purchased falls under state regulation.  Of course, every state has slightly different regulations. However, every state does require a prescription to own an AED. Another basic requirement is that you keep a log of the AED’s use and maintenance to know if inspected that it’s in good standing. If you are not willing to meet these requirements on your own, you should purchase a program management software for the AED. 

Program Management is almost always the best option for small and larger organizations with an AED. Many places experience employee or volunteer turnover in their facility and keeping up with the AED can be forgotten. AED Program Management will allow the responsibility to be easily passed from person to person without overwhelming or confusing anyone.

Furthermore, program management makes sure your investment in this lifesaving device is actually effective. The worst case with an AED is to have one during an emergency, and then find out it’s battery expired! No one should ever be in that position and program management helps ensure this.

Total Cost

To find your total cost of an AED, add up the following:

• AED New Unit Cost (Includes pads & batteries)
• Back up batteries
• Pediatric Pads (Most AED’s only come with adult pads)
• AED Cabinet
• AED First Responder Accessories
• AED Program Management

Final Considerations

The biggest takeaway when examining the hidden costs of an AED, should be to add up the cost of every item. Factor in the cost of additional accessories and services as well as itemized parts that need to be replaced over time. Look at more than just the face value of an item and take all things into consideration. 

Again, this should not be overwhelming! We’ve done the work for you in our AED Comparison chart here. 

Pre-Market Approval for AED’s is something that has been in the works since 2015. The FDA wanted to be more stringent on AED reliability and make sure that manufacturers were keeping up with their AEDs while assuring quality. Medical equipment, and AED’s need to go through rigorous testing before being put on the market. Because of this, the FDA came up with PMA- Pre-Market Approval- and manufacturers of the AEDs and AED accessories are required to submit a PMA application for their product.

Pre Market Approval Application Process:

The Pre-Market Approval process has several steps involved in it. There are certain AED units where manufacturers decided it was not worth their time to go through all the requirements by the FDA. These manufacturer’s never submitted a PMA application for their AED device that was sold prior to this requirement. Because of this,  you may have an AED that is not PMA approved or never received a PMA. 

Having an AED without PMA, does not inhibit you from using your AED, however it means that if you try to purchase another one it will no longer be available on the market. This includes the accessories as well: pads and batteries. Because pads and batteries usually have no more than a two to three year shelf life, you are going to be forced to have to find a new AED unit altogether. 

It is possible to still find some AED’s and accessories without PMA for sale. Distributors are still able to sell what they have already purchased but can not purchase more. So, if you’re lucky enough to find what you need- that’s great. However, once the products are gone, they are gone. This may force you to upgrade your device. You can find a cost comparison chart of all AED’s with PMA and their accessories here.

How Will I Know If My AED is approved or not?

There’s a whole list of AEDs that you can find online of approved ones and  you can find unapproved lists as well.  Some of the more common AED units that are on the unapproved list are going to be the Lifepak 500, the Welch-Allen 10 and 

20 series,  the Phillips FR2 and the HeartSine 300, as well as  some old Cardiac Science units as well. Pay attention to the series numbers behind the unit because most manufacturers have come out with new units that have the same name but a different series number.

If you think you might not have a PMA approved AED, you should go ahead and check and be aware if you may have to purchase a new unit in the next six months to a year. This will help you start planning and saving towards that.  AED Source offers some really affordable options as well as financing.

The Heartsine Samaritan PAD 350 is one of the most popular on the market recently. It is very compact and ideal for schools, churches, or people who may be traveling with an AED. The next most popular AED with Pre Market Approval is the ZOLL AED Plus. You’ve probably seen this one at your local gym, airport, or community center. They are large and very visible. The Zoll tends to be a fan favorite with it’s bells and whistles!

Watch this video to learn more about PMA:

Visit us at AED Source for all your AED and AED Accessory needs. We are happy to help you.

 

Owning an AED is a great choice. If you own an AED currently or are looking to possibly buy a used AED, we want to help. Let us help you understand when AED’s are considered old and when to replace an AED.

How Old is Old for an AED?

AEDs, like any other technology, will age.  However, they do not age as quickly as some other technology, like a cell phone for instance. Additionally, AED’s generally do not get the same use other household electronics get. So while your three year old iPhone seems old to you, your three year old AED will still be very new. So when do you replace an AED? AED’s are considered ‘old’ around the time the manufacturers warranty is close to expiring. This is usually around 7-8 years.

An AED should still function when the manufacturers warranty expires. However, like a car- when you’re looking for something reliable, many people opt to replace it. There is no ‘expiration date’ on an AED unit as a whole but the warranties do expire. 

Often, people get confused about the different types of defibrillators. AED’s are just one type of defibrillator. AED stands for ‘Automated External Defibrillator.’ There are manual external defibrillators (like you see in E.R.), manual internal defibrillators, implantable cardioverter- defibrillators (Pacemakers), wearable cardiac defibrillators, and finally, Automatic External Defibrillators. You can learn more about these in our article ‘What are the different types of defibrillators?’

What’s New with modern AED’s?

Long gone are the days of large, cumbersome AEDs. As technology has advanced, so have AEDs. Most AED’s now weigh just a few pounds, have batteries designed to outlive any other, and are made out of materials designed to last much longer than just traditional plastics. Modern AED’s also contain additional sensors to record data that helps first responders and manufactures assure the best performance of the device.

Reliability and Liability 

 

Proper management of your AED is important, but thankfully fairly simple. Your AED should be regularly checked to make sure it is still working. You also will want to make sure to replace the pads and batteries before they expire. Typically, AED’s have batteries that last at least a couple years and the pads are the same way. Because this is a medical device, the batteries and pads both have a stamped expiration date and even if the items may be operable, there is no guarantee and therefore the dates should be strictly adhered to. 

Furthermore, when you have equipment like an AED, proper management reduces your liability substantially. While there isn’t great liability that comes with owning an AED, there have been lawsuits regarding them being available and functional in emergencies.

According to Athea Law: “AED lawsuits are immensely fact-specific claims subject to laws that vary by jurisdiction. In general, there are some common scenarios involved in litigating these cases:

1. Premises owners had no AED on their property in violation of statutory law or the duty of care owed to guest, particularly in situations where
2. An AED was present, but employees on site were prevented from using them by managers or not informed about their location, how to use them, or Good Samaritan Laws.
3. AEDs failed to function as intended due to product defects or improper / negligent maintenance.

In cases where there are no clear violations of statutes, there may be opportunities to argue liability based on common law duties, negligence, and premises liability.”

Many property managers have legal obligations to protect against risks of harm, and the increased number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year may make it a foreseeable risk. Furthermore, risks may be more pronounced in certain settings, such as gyms or large and isolated premises that EMS cannot quickly access.

Is your AED FDA approved?

The FDA gives premarket approval for medical devices such as AED’s to be sold. Premarket approval is the FDA process of scientific and regulatory review to ensure the safety and effectiveness of these medical devices. Any medical device that is used to support or sustain human life is required to have premarket approval before being sold.

However, many AED’s were sold prior to 2015 when premarket approval was put in place. Not all AEDs have since been approved so let us list a few of our favorite FDA-compliant ones: 

• The ZOLL AED Plus. This AED is one of the most popular on the market and is quickly recognized by its bright yellow case.
• The Heartsine Samaritan PAD 350P. This AED is top quality with a moderate price tag. It’s popular for its compact size and dual language functionality.
• Defibtech Lifeline AED. An ever popular option with Firefighters and Police Officers.

All of the AED’s at AED Source have full FDA approval for the devices and accessories.

Recommended Replacement 

Most modern AEDs can outlast the typical eight year warranty. However, it’s best practice to replace your AED when the warranty expires. The effectiveness of AED’s after their warranty period has not been well researched, studied, or guaranteed. Therefore, there is no way to certify the effectiveness of an old AED. While there are no hard and fast rules or requirements on when to replace an old AED, this is a good rule of thumb.

AED Program Management

AED program management will help ensure that your AED is always in working order. Using AED program management will help put you at ease in regards to the effectiveness of your AED. Program Management Software will let you know when to replace aed parts such as the pads and batteries. Program Management  can also cover the cost of repairing your AED or getting a new AED after using your AED in a cardiac event.  To learn more about AED program management watch this video:

Summary

Knowing when to replace an AED is important. Make sure you check the warranty, use program management and keep the batteries ready to go.  A faulty AED can mean the difference between life and death so make sure you head over to AED Source to get any AEDs and Accessories you need.

Learn more about all the essentials to go with your AED in this video: