1. What is a Defibrillator?

A Defibrillator (Also referred to as Defib) is a small electrical device that provides a controlled shock to the heart, in the event of a life-threatening arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation. The most common type of defibrillator is the AED (This is called an automated external defibrillator). The AED comes in two forms, either semi-automatic or automatic. A semi-automatic AED like the defibtech lifeline will detect the rhythm of the heart and tell you when to shock the person in cardiac arrest. [lifeline defibtech] A fully automatic AED like the LIFEPAK CR is designed to be the first person at the scene of a cardiac arrest. If the patient has a shockable rhythm, the defibrillator automatically delivers a shock without any other user intervention required. [lifepak CR plus]

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

2. Why would someone need a defibrillator?

When a cardiac arrest happens, there is a problem between the electrical impulses between the brains & the heart. This prevents the heart from pumping blood to the rest of the body. Defibrillators save lives by giving a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall when someone is in cardiac arrest. The purpose of the electric shock is to restore the normal rhythm – to defibrillate the heart. There is a big difference between a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest.

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

3. Difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest

A heart attack happens when there are issues where the pipes in your body that pump blood to and from the heart get clogged. Victims may report chest pains days or weeks before the attack happens. The heart will still pump but, at abnormal rates; if you notice any signs of crushing chest pain or shortness of breath contact 999 immediately. A sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart stops and the person falls unconscious.

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

4. How Long Do Defibrillators Last?

Defibrillators have replaceable parts. Rather than the actual models themselves, it’s the batteries and electrode packs that need replacing. Each Defibrillator model comes with a stand-by life while it isn’t in use. This ranges between 2-5 years while the unit isn’t in direct use. This doesn’t mean the defibrillator needs replacing, this only means that replacement parts are required. This comes in as either electrode pads or the replacement battery. Batteries usually last a maximum of 5 years shelf life. Pads are considerably less, with an average of 2 years shelf life. Pads should be replaced after each use. Batteries have a maximum number of shocks before replacements are needed. For more information on defibrillator lifespans, click here.

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

5. How long do defibrillator batteries last?

Nothing lasts forever and with the importance of life-saving devices; you’ll need the right parts to keep them operating smoothly. Defibrillator batteries have a standby life and a maximum number of shocks, this varies between each model. For a full itinerary of the defibrillators we sell. Click here.

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

6. How many times can a defibrillator be used?

You can use a defibrillator for as long as there are replacement parts available. The end of life for a defibrillator comes from when the manufacturer can no longer obtain parts (electrodes/pads, batteries). This is usually many many years after the warranty expires. The lack of replacement parts makes it more difficult to ensure it is still useful in the event of an emergency. If you are unsure, give us a call on 0808 278 2741 Here’s a breakdown of some of our best AED units: [Defibrillator Buyers Guide]

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

7. How many times can a person be defibrillated?

First things first. It depends on a few immediate factors: How many shocks can the battery on your AED deliver? How many batteries do you have for your AED? Every minute without CPR or defibrillation reduces the victim’s survival chances by between 7% and 10% One study suggested a minimum of 2-3 shocks are most closely related to long-term survival afterwards. However, physical and underlying conditions vary in people, defibrillator greatly extends survival. In short; a person can be shocked as many times as necessary, however, with each shock that fails to return the heart to a normal rhythm, the chances of survival decreases.

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

8. How often do defibrillators work?

Did you know around 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur every year in the UK? Without any immediate treatment, 90-95% of cardiac arrest victims will die. This is where the importance of defibrillators come into place. Defibrillators can rapidly improve the survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. For victims who received a shock within three minutes of collapse, the survival rate was 74 %. That kind of effectiveness speaks volumes to the importance of owning a defibrillator.

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

9. Can anyone use a defibrillator?

Yes – modern AEDs are all equipped with varying levels of visual and auditory support to aid the user in resuscitating a cardiac arrest victim. Fully automatic defibrillators will even deliver the shock when required! They are pretty great devices, allowing anyone to deliver treatment that would previously be only available in a hospital setting.

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

10. Do you use a defibrillator when a heart stops?

If someone has gone into sudden cardiac arrest, you should first conduct CPR to stimulate the hearts rhythm before using a defibrillator. Taken from the NHS website, on how to perform CPR: “1. Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of the person’s chest. Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers. 2. Position yourself with your shoulders above your hands. 3. Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down by 5–6cm on their chest.” 4. Try to perform chest compressions at 100-120 chest compressions a minute.” You would then use the AED, follow the instructions carefully and repeat both CPR and the AED before emergency services arrive. Most modern AEDs come with a CPR rhythm counter built in to guide you through this stage. If the heart can be shocked quickly with an AED, a normal heart rhythm may be restored.

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

11. Does a defibrillator stop a heart?

The shock from an AED will reset the heart in order to get it beating to a normal rhythm again

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

12. Can you defibrillate someone with a pacemaker?

A pacemaker is a small device that is placed in the chest or abdomen to control abnormal heart rhythms. Even with one in, they are still vulnerable to sudden cardiac arrests. For patients with a pacemaker, you will see a scar just over the area on their upper right chest, where you would normally place the electrode pads. It’s not advisable to place the pads on the pacemaker even though, if they are experiencing sudden cardiac arrest it implies the pacemaker isn’t functioning properly. The electrode pads pass current from one pad to another, so if you administer a defib shock to a pacemaker, place it a few inches below the recommended placement. Remember, the current needs to pass-through the heart between the two pads.

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

13. Why are defibrillators so expensive?

You pay for a piece of mind. These aren’t called life-saving devices without being able to live up the name. When you factor in the price you need to think about (not limited to) These aren’t double AA batteries. A lot of expense and design goes into making them long-lasting, low maintenance and protection against all potential complications. The high voltage components needed to power and conduct the intense voltage shocks do not come cheap. Mass production with solid testing and assurance the devices are fully regulated. You’re carrying a device which if it was faulty and unregulated could very well kill you. That’s why the utmost care is taken to make sure nothing goes wrong when using them in the event of an emergency See our complete selection of life-saving devices here at Direct365 supplies

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Are they worth footing the bill, what do they do and so on and so forth… After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give you a complete guide to help in deciding whether they’re right for you.

Category: Defibrillator Articles

The Complete Guide To Defibrillators

Author: Michael Addison
Category: Defibrillator Articles, How To / FAQ Guides
Posted on: January 22nd, 2023

Blog title and image of a defibrillator.

As a provider of essential business supplies, we get asked a lot about defibrillators. Whether they are worth footing the bill for, what do they do and more. To answer your question, here is our complete guide to defibrillators. After a few brief articles in the past giving snapshot guides on these devices, we give […]

Author: Luke Chandley
Category: Defibrillator Articles, Informative Articles
Posted on: December 1st, 2021

Article title over a yellow background with an image of a defibrillator to the right.

Health and safety in a school setting is important for several reasons. Working in any space with young and potentially vulnerable people requires the right level of safety assurances should they need medical attention. This is why we should try and ensure defibrillators in schools become commonplace. Defibrillators have recently become a much sought-after piece […]

Author: Luke Chandley
Category: Defibrillator Articles, How To / FAQ Guides
Posted on: October 15th, 2021

blog title image for what to consider when servicing your defibrillator

Over the last decade or two defibrillators have become more commonplace across towns and cities within the U.K. Small pieces of kit that enable the user to shock the patients’ heart back to health, defibrillators are lifesaving and still not as frequently found as they should be. Campaigns from such organisations as the Oliver King […]

Author: Luke Chandley
Category: Defibrillator Articles, Informative Articles, Small Business Guidance
Posted on: October 15th, 2021

what are the side effects of defibrillator shocks blog title image

Defibrillators are brilliant machines with the potential to save lives and minimise after-effects of having a cardiac arrest. The defibrillators we’re talking about – automated electronic defibrillators, or AEDs – will be the most familiar to you. These medical devices have grown in popularity and accessibility across the last decade. This is due to campaigns […]

Author: Abigail Owen
Category: Defibrillator Articles, Small Business Guidance
Posted on: August 23rd, 2021

AED blog title with orange background and an image of an AED

What is an AED and why should I use one? An AED is a portable, automated external defibrillator that is used to aid those experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest. Using an AED and performing CPR can double the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital. But, every minute that passes reduces survival by around 7%. Being able to access a […]

Author: Melissa McNamara
Category: Defibrillator Articles
Posted on: July 2nd, 2020

What is SCA? People often confuse Sudden Cardiac Arrests (SCAs) with heart attacks. A heart attack occurs when circulation issues block blood flow to the heart, whereas SCA occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly. So, a heart attack can be seen as somewhat of a “plumbing problem”, while SCA is more like […]

Author: Melissa McNamara
Category: Defibrillator Articles, How To / FAQ Guides, Informative Articles, Safety
Posted on: April 23rd, 2020

CPR Has Changed As mentioned in our previous blog on First Aid Advice during COVID-19, officials are updating their guidance on First Aid and CPR protocols in light of the pandemic outbreak. This isn’t just relevant to First Aiders; all of the general public should be keeping an eye on these important updates to ensure […]

Author: Melissa McNamara
Category: Defibrillator Articles
Posted on: November 14th, 2019

In the wake of World Kindness Day, we’d love to announce a little bit of good we’ve done for a business close to our heart. A Bit About Us At Direct365, helping SMEs nationwide is what we’re all about; we support a range of businesses in various ways, providing workplace essentials and guidance with specialist […]

Author: Melissa McNamara
Category: Defibrillator Articles
Posted on: October 16th, 2019

October 16th is Restart a Heart Day, a campaign led by the Resuscitation Council to improve the survival rate of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests (SDAs). This public awareness day sees a partnership of many organisations, including The British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross, St John Ambulance and Yorkshire Ambulance Service, all in hope to increase […]

Author: Melissa McNamara
Category: Defibrillator Articles
Posted on: October 2nd, 2019

An automated external defibrillator – AED for short – is a life-saving device for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The presence of an AED allows any untrained user to rapidly respond to a life-threatening situation in any sort of environment. So, what places should provide AEDs? Businesses like schools, care homes and medical facilities may […]

Category: Defibrillator Articles

The Complete Guide To Defibrillators

School Safety: Why Have Defibrillators in Schools?

What to Consider when Servicing Your Defibrillator

What are the Side Effects of Defibrillator Shocks?

AEDs: What are they and why do we use them?

SCA & Business Responsibility in 2020

#StaySafe – CPR & Cross Contamination

Supporting Small Businesses – Our Work with The Martial Arts Studio

Happy Restart a Heart Day!

Think Your Business Doesn’t Need a Defibrillator? Think Again.