Maintaining Your Rented Defibrillator: Costs and Best Practices

Having a readily available Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can be the difference between life and death during a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Renting a defibrillator is a cost-effective way to ensure access to critical life-saving equipment, but if you've opted for a rental plan for your AED, you might be wondering who's responsible for maintenance and what are the associated costs.

This blog will explain the typical costs of maintaining a rented defibrillator and outline best practices for ensuring your AED is always ready to use.

 

defibshop Rental Packages Include Maintenance

At defibshop, our defibrillator rental packages include essential maintenance, which can save you time and money compared to buying a defibrillator outright. Here’s an overview of what is included in our rental packages: 

  • Regular health checks: We inspect the defibrillator twice during the 5-year rental period to ensure it is functioning correctly.
  • Replacement pads and batteries: When the pads or batteries expire or are used during response, defibshop replaces them free of charge.
  • Replacement defibrillator during warranty: If the defibrillator encounters a technical issue within the warranty period, we will send you a replacement defibrillator

Understanding Rental Costs and Potential Additional Fees

Rental costs vary depending on the specific defibrillator model and whether it's for indoor or outdoor use. At defibshop, we offer a range of options, with daily rates starting at:

  • Heartsine 350P: £0.98 + VAT (indoor) / £1.20 + VAT (outdoor)
  • Heartsine 360P: £0.98 + VAT (indoor) / £1.20 + VAT (outdoor)
  • ZOLL AED Plus/3: £1.35 + VAT (indoor) / £1.45 + VAT (outdoor)

It's important to note that these base rates include the maintenance services mentioned earlier. Depending on the specific rental agreement you choose for your organisational needs, there may be additional fees. If you need to terminate the rental agreement before the contract ends, there may also be early termination fees involved.

Best Practices for Maintaining Your Rented Defibrillator

While core maintenance tasks are included within our rental packages, it is important as a defibrillator Guardian that you take necessary maintenance steps to ensure safety and emergency preparedness if a SCA strikes.

  • Daily visual checks: Perform a quick daily check to ensure the AED is properly mounted, has no visible damage, and the indicator light shows it's operational.
  • Weekly self-tests: The AEDs we offer available for rent have a built-in self-test function. Run this test weekly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Record keeping: Keep a log of all self-tests and maintenance performed externally and internally. This will help to ensure proper documentation and avoid any confusion.
  • User familiarisation: Encourage regular practice using the defibrillator with training pads in a non-emergency situation. This helps to ensure potential responders are comfortable and confident when responding to a real-life emergency. Our rental packages include two 2.5 hour training courses for up to 20 people.

Renting a defibrillator can be a cost-effective way to equip your business or organisation with adequate equipment needed for when Sudden Cardiac Arrest strikes. By understanding the typical maintenance costs included in rental packages and following best practices, you can ensure you are always prepared for an emergency. Early intervention with a defibrillator can significantly improve a person's chances of survival in the event of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.