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Monitoring Your Philips Heartstart Defibrillator: A Guide To Testing

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen to anyone at any time, so ensuring your Philips Heartstart defibrillator’s readiness is crucial. The Philips Heartstart HS1 and Heartstart FRx both perform routine self-tests daily. Conducting your own checks is recommended for maximum preparation. This article will take you through all the necessary steps and actions. 

Understanding Self-Tests with Philips AEDs

First, it is useful to understand how self-tests work with your Philips Automated External Defibrillator (AED). When setting up your device, you will be prompted to run a test by pressing the shock button. When instructed, press the button and let the self-test run. Once complete, the Philips AED will share the results and ask you to press the green ‘On/Off’ button if in an emergency. The device will then go into standby mode with the ‘ready’ light flashing to show you it is ready when needed.

Manual Inspections

Manual inspections of your Philips AED should be performed daily to prevent unexpected failures in an emergency. This involves checking the device is active and ready for use, indicated by the green ‘ready’ light flashing. You should also check the electrode pads have not passed their expiry date, are properly connected, and that the battery is functioning. 

Inserting a new battery and electrode pads will prompt the device to run a self-test. If it passes, the green ready light will flash, or if there are any issues it will start to beep, accompanied by the flashing ‘i’ button. Do not frequently replace the battery to initiate a test as this uses power and drains the battery sooner. 

Performing manual inspections regularly is a good way to keep your device in working order. Learn more about maintaining your Philips defibrillator in our blog.

Professional Inspections

For added peace of mind, we recommend having your Philips AED serviced by a qualified technician on an annual basis. Professional inspections help diagnose any potential issues preventing your device from functioning in an SCA. At defibshop, we offer various maintenance contracts to help keep your AED in working condition. 


Our basic service includes replacement pads and batteries sent to you when your current parts expire. Alternatively, you can choose to add on annual servicing, completed by an experienced technician using a simulator to perform a shock test. This ensures optimal functionality with your Philips AED, and confidence that your device is ready to deliver life-saving treatment.

Troubleshooting Any Issues

If you notice any changes to your Philips defibrillator, it is important to address these immediately. If the ready light is not flashing, there is a problem with the device and it will not be prepared to deliver treatment. 

Other common issues may include:

  • The battery level is low
  • The battery has not been installed
  • Pads or batteries not properly connected

Pressing the blue ‘i’ button when the icon is flashing will provide troubleshooting guidance to help you resolve any issues. To help improve your understanding of your Philips AED and maintain it correctly, read our troubleshooting blog.

 

More Information

How do I test my Philips defibrillator?

All Philips Heartstart defibrillators are built to perform daily, weekly, and monthly self-tests. These check the internal circuitry along with the condition of pads and batteries to ensure the correct set-up. If you need to perform a manual test, remove the battery for five seconds and reinstall it. This will initiate a self-test lasting around a minute. Manual testing should only be done:

  • When first setting up the AED.
  • After use in an emergency.
  • When replacing the battery.
  • If the device has been dropped or may have been damaged.

How do I make sure my Philips defibrillator is working?

Check that the green ready light is flashing steadily on your device. If so, it is working normally and ready for use. If the light is not flashing at all, this indicates a potential problem.

How often should I test my Philips AED?

Self-tests are performed regularly by your Philips AED daily, weekly, and monthly to check internal components, battery status, and pad readiness.

In addition to these automated checks, you should visually inspect your device weekly and conduct a more detailed check monthly. This includes confirming the green ‘ready’ light is flashing, ensuring pads and batteries are in date, and checking for any visible damage.

What do I do if my Philips AED shows a self-test error?

If your Philips AED detects an error during a self-test, the device will make an audible beeping sound and the blue information button will flash to alert you. Pressing the button will provide more guidance on the issue and specific actions to take.