Hot Weather Warning: Check Your Defibrillator

With temperatures rising, most businesses are thinking about keeping staff cool, providing drinking water, job rotation and managing heat in the workplace.

One thing that can easily be overlooked is your life saving defibrillator.

Defibrillators contain electronic components, batteries and adhesive electrode pads. If they are stored somewhere that becomes excessively hot, such as a vehicle, outdoor cabinet, conservatory or glass fronted reception area, this could affect the battery, pads, accessories and overall reliability of the defibrillator and causing it not to be ready when you need it most.

The permitted storage temperature varies between different makes and models, so always check the manufacturer’s instructions for your particular defibrillator.

Common Problems I Find

When I check workplace defibrillators, I regularly find problems that should have been picked up much earlier as every defibrillator should have an assigned guardian to look after their organisations defibrillator.

Problems that we find and in no particular order include:

  • The defibrillator not being in the cabinet.
  • Electrode pads that are out of date.
  • Pad packaging that has been opened, torn or damaged.
  • Batteries that have not been installed correctly.
  • Batteries that are loose, missing or out of date.
  • Warning lights or error indicators that nobody has noticed.
  • Scissors, gloves, razors and towels missing from the kit.
  • No CPR pocket mask available for the person providing rescue breaths.
  • Staff who do not know where the defibrillator is located.

A cabinet on the wall can give everyone a sense of reassurance, but that means very little if the defibrillator is missing, incomplete or not ready to work.

Be Particularly Careful With Defibrillators in Vehicles

Vehicles can become extremely hot during warm weather, even when the outside temperature does not seem excessive.

This is particularly important for defibrillators carried in:

  • Company cars and vans.
  • Minibuses.
  • Taxis.
  • Sports club vehicles.
  • Mobile response vehicles.
  • Construction and site vehicles.

Avoid leaving the defibrillator in a parked vehicle during extreme heat unless its permitted storage conditions can be maintained.

If it is moved somewhere cooler, make sure everyone knows exactly where it has been placed. A protected defibrillator is no use if people cannot find it during an emergency.

Check Outdoor Cabinets

Outdoor cabinets should also be checked during hot weather.

Consider whether the cabinet:

  • Sits in direct sunlight.
  • Feels excessively hot inside.
  • Has any form of temperature monitoring.
  • Is dry and free from condensation.
  • Opens correctly.
  • Has a working electrical supply where required.
  • Is still suitable for the make and model of AED inside it.

Do not modify or prop open a specialist cabinet without speaking to the manufacturer or supplier.

What to Check During the Heatwave

Open the cabinet or carrying case and physically check the equipment. Do not simply look through the window or complete the checklist from memory.

Check the defibrillator

Make sure:

  • It is actually there.
  • It is in the correct location.
  • The battery is properly installed.
  • The battery is fully secure.
  • The device shows the correct green light, tick or rescue ready symbol.
  • There are no warning lights, alarms or error messages.

If anything looks different from normal, check the manufacturer’s instructions or contact the supplier.

Check the electrode pads

Make sure:

  • The pads are present.
  • They are correct for the defibrillator.
  • They are within their expiry date.
  • The packet is completely sealed.
  • The packaging is not torn, punctured or damaged.
  • There are no signs of heat or moisture damage.

Do not open the packet during an inspection. Once opened, the pads may begin to dry out and should normally be replaced.

Check the accessories

I recommend keeping the following with every defibrillator:

  • CPR pocket mask with a one-way valve.
  • Protective gloves.
  • Trauma shears.
  • Disposable razor.
  • Absorbent towel.
  • Spare pads where appropriate.

A CPR pocket mask is often forgotten, but it can provide reassurance and protection for the person giving rescue breaths.

Check that the mask is clean, complete, undamaged and stored in its protective case.

How Often Should You Check It?

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and your organisation’s normal inspection schedule.

During very hot weather, I would recommend carrying out additional checks where the defibrillator is stored:

  • In a vehicle.
  • In an outdoor cabinet.
  • In direct sunlight.
  • In a warehouse or workshop.
  • In a portable building.
  • In a room that becomes unusually hot.
  • At an outdoor event.

For higher-risk locations, a brief daily check during the heatwave may be sensible.

What if the Defibrillator Has Become Too Hot?

If you think the device has been exposed to temperatures outside the manufacturer’s permitted range:

  1. Move it to a suitable environment without making it difficult to access.
  2. Check the ready indicator and look for warning messages.
  3. Inspect the battery and electrode-pad packaging.
  4. Check the manufacturer’s instructions.
  5. Contact the supplier or manufacturer for advice.
  6. Identify an alternative AED if you cannot confirm that the device is ready.
  7. Record what has happened and what action has been taken.

Do not place the defibrillator in a refrigerator, freezer or directly against ice packs in an attempt to cool it quickly.

Check Yours Today

During this period of hot weather, take a few minutes to check your defibrillator properly.

Make sure:

  • It is actually there.
  • The battery is installed correctly.
  • The device shows that it is ready.
  • The pads are sealed and within date.
  • The packaging is not damaged.
  • The accessories are complete.
  • A CPR pocket mask is available.
  • The storage location is not becoming excessively hot.
  • Staff know where the AED is and how to access it.

The worst time to discover a missing defibrillator, expired pads or an incorrectly fitted battery is when someone has stopped breathing.

A defibrillator can only help save a life when it is present, complete and ready to work.

For advice about defibrillator checks, replacement pads, batteries, accessories or First Aid and Defibrillator training, contact Essential 6 on 01803 26 66 66 or email info@essential6.co.uk.