How to Tell When My AED Battery Expires
Now that you have an AED package (battery, pads, fast response kit, etc.) safely stored away, you are fully prepared for a cardiac arrest or heart attack emergency! Of course, you hope that an emergency never occurs, but if it does, you know that you have everything you need to assist. So what happens if you don’t need to use your AED for a while? How will you know when your AED battery has expired? Here is your guide to knowing when your battery expires and when to replace it!
When to Replace Your AED Battery
At First Edition First Aid Training Inc., we supply the trusted Philips AEDs – In-home, FRx, Onsite, and FR3. The In-home, Onsite and FRx share the same battery, and the FR3 has it’s own – all with the identical battery stand-by life of 4 years (once installed). This is crucial to keep in mind, because although the AED may not have been used in an emergency, the battery is active each day. Philips AED’s conducts daily, weekly and monthly self-tests to ensure they are 100% ready for use at a seconds notice. Also, each AED battery has a shelf life of 5 years, so if you have not used your backup AED battery within this time, a replacement will be required.
How to Find Your AED Battery Expiration Date
On each battery there will be a white label. Each label has 2-3 barcodes along with the location of where the battery was created. Located near these bar codes you will find a small icon with the words “Install Before” next to it. This will give the date (year, month, day) of when the AED battery will need to be installed. This expiry date can be found both on the battery itself (the battery will have a white label), as well as the outer packaging that the battery comes in (also located on a white label). This date indicates that the battery needs to be installed in a machine by then. If it is not, the battery has become expired and is not useable. Once the AED battery is installed in the machine, it will last 4 years.
What Happens When Your AED Battery Is Expired
Thankfully, even if you forget to look at the expiration date, your AED will inform you of an expired battery. If the battery has reached the expiration date, the machine will begin to chirp. This is a clear indication that your battery needs a replacement. To guarantee this is the problem, press the flashing ‘i’ button located on the front of the AED. The AED will then verbally tell you that your battery needs replacement. It is always a good idea to have a replacement battery on-hand for these instances. If you do not have a replacement nearby, be sure to order your replacement battery right away.
For easy instructions on how to change your battery, view the “Maintaining the Heartstart HS1/Onsite/Home pads and batteries” video on our troubleshooting page.
It is beneficial to know when your battery will be expiring so that you can be ready with a replacement. You never know when an emergency will occur, and it is better to be prepared! Need a replacement AED battery? Order yours before the other expires!
Has your AED begun to make a chirping noise? Have you updated the software on your AED recently? How old are your AED pads? Just like any other device, some routine maintenance is required for your AED to ensure the best possible performance!
