Choosing the Right Defibrillator for Your Setting

Choosing a defibrillator comes down to three questions: who will use it, where it will be kept, and how you will look after it. For most workplaces, schools, clubs and community sites the answer is an automated external defibrillator (AED). This guide explains the options, what to check on the specification, where to put it and what to plan for after you buy.

In brief

• Most organisations need an AED. It is designed for use by minimally trained people and talks them through every step.
• Choose a model that works on adults and children if children may be on site.
• Think about upkeep before you buy: pad and battery dates, self-testing, and who will check it.
• Put it where it can be reached within minutes, signed, and register it so the ambulance service can find it.

The three types of defibrillator

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)

AEDs are designed for use by bystanders. They analyse the heart rhythm automatically, advise a shock only if one is needed, and give voice prompts at every step. They are the right choice for workplaces, schools, sports clubs, care homes and public spaces. See our automated external defibrillators.

Manual defibrillators

Manual defibrillators need trained clinical judgement to read the heart rhythm and decide when and how strongly to shock. They are used by paramedics and clinical staff trained in advanced life support, not by lay responders.

Monitor-defibrillators

These combine defibrillation with patient monitoring, and often an AED mode and pacing. They are standard equipment in ambulances and hospital emergency and critical care settings. See our monitor-defibrillators.

Which defibrillator should I buy?

If the people who will use it are not clinicians, buy an AED. If you are equipping an ambulance, a response vehicle or a clinical area where trained staff will use it, look at a monitor-defibrillator. If you are not sure, tell us about your setting and we will suggest a model.

Semi-automatic or fully automatic?

With a semi-automatic AED the rescuer presses the shock button when the device advises a shock. A fully automatic AED delivers the shock itself after a warning. Every AED analyses the heart rhythm automatically, so the difference is only in who delivers the shock. Some organisations prefer fully automatic so the rescuer has one less decision to make; others prefer to stay in control of the moment of the shock. Either is a safe choice, and the Comen G Series is available in both.

Adult and child use

Many AEDs can be used on children, either with paediatric pads or a child mode, which lowers the energy. If children may be on site, check this before you buy. The Comen G Series has adult and paediatric pads pre-connected and a one-touch adult and child switch that adjusts the energy and the compression-to-ventilation ratio.

What to check on the specification

• Voice prompts and CPR guidance. Clear prompts, a CPR metronome and, ideally, language switching and automatic volume adjustment for noisy places.
• Readiness. How quickly it is ready after opening the lid. The G Series is ready in under 2 seconds after the lid is opened.
• Energy and waveform. The G Series uses a biphasic truncated exponential waveform with automatic compensation for patient impedance, and energy of up to 360 J.
• Protection and toughness. The IP rating (the G Series is IP55, protected against dust and water) and whether it can survive being dropped (1.5 m for the G Series). Check the operating temperature range if it will be kept somewhere cold or hot (−5 to 50 °C for the G3 and G3A).
• Battery and pads. The G3 and G3A battery is disposable and maintenance-free with a standby life of more than 6 years under the manufacturer's stated conditions. The pads have a validity period of 42 months. Find out the replacement cost and the expiry dates of whatever you are considering.
• Data and connectivity. Some models store the rhythm and event data and offer Wi-Fi, cellular or Bluetooth options (availability may vary).

Where to keep it and how many you need

Keep it somewhere central, visible and signed, where it can be reached quickly whenever people are on site. A common rule of thumb is that a defibrillator should be reachable within about three minutes of a collapse, so a large, multi-storey or spread-out site may need more than one. Avoid locking it away, and if it is kept outside, protect it from the weather and from theft. Register it on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network, so the ambulance service can direct a 999 caller to it.

Looking after a defibrillator

A defibrillator only helps if it is ready. Check the status indicator on a regular routine, keep a log, and note the expiry dates of the pads and the battery. Replace the pads after any use. We supply replacement defibrillator pads for the G Series and most other makes.

Training

No formal training is needed to use an AED, because it gives voice prompts. Training is still recommended: CPR and AED awareness helps people act quickly and with confidence. The key steps are to call 999, start CPR and fetch the AED. See guidance from Resuscitation Council UK.

Do you have to have one?

Rules and guidance depend on the type of organisation and the nation. In most workplaces there is no specific legal duty to provide a defibrillator, but employers must assess their first-aid needs and that assessment should consider one. Schools, care providers and other sectors may have their own guidance, so check with your regulator, trust or insurer.

Guides for your setting

• Defibrillators for schools and colleges
• Defibrillators for sports clubs and leisure centres
• Defibrillators for workplaces
• Defibrillators for care homes
• Defibrillators for community and public-access sites

OscarTech UK is an approved supplier on the NHS Supply Chain framework for external defibrillation devices and related services and accessories. Tell us about your setting and we will suggest a model and send a quote.

This guide is general information, not medical advice.