Defibtech Lifeline View Fully Automatic Defibrillator

Yes. While AEDs are low-maintenance, they do require replacement parts over time:

• Electrode pads usually expire every 2–4 years.

• Batteries typically last around 4 years.

It’s important to plan for these ongoing costs when fundraising for a CPAD.

Each CPAD has a designated guardian who checks the device regularly to ensure it’s always ready. Their responsibilities include:

• Checking battery and pad expiry dates

• Monitoring self-test signals (flashing lights or warning beeps)

• Ensuring the cabinet heater and lock are working

• Cleaning the AED and cabinet

• Restocking consumables (scissors, gloves, pocket mask, razor)

• Reporting deployments so replacements can be arranged

We provide full guidance and support to all guardians so they feel confident looking after their community’s lifesaving equipment.

The Circuit – the national defibrillator network is the UK-wide database that connects every registered defibrillator directly with ambulance services.

When a 999 call is made for a suspected cardiac arrest, ambulance operators use The Circuit to instantly see the location of the nearest available AED. This ensures callers can be directed quickly to the closest device, giving the best possible chance of survival.

Registering a defibrillator on The Circuit is vital. It means your AED is visible to emergency services 24/7, ensuring that lifesaving equipment in your community can always be found and used when it’s needed most.

Not sure if your AED is registered?
Check using Defib finder
Need to register your defibrillator?
Visit The Circuit to get started

What is an AED? (Automated External Defibrillator)

A defibrillator is a medical device used to treat life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, which are abnormal heart rhythms. These condition can cause the heart to stop pumping blood effectively, leading to sudden cardiac arrest.

A defibrillator works by delivering a controlled electric shock to the heart, the shock helps to reset the heart’s electrical system, allowing it to regain a normal rhythm.

Defibrillators are critical for saving lives in cases of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), where every second counts. Early defibrillation, along with CPR, can significantly improve the chances of survival.
AEDs are designed for anyone to use, with minimal training, in emergency situations.

General Public

• Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are designed to be used by non-medical people,
  such as bystanders, in emergency situations.
• AEDs are user-friendly, with clear audio prompts and visual instructions that guide the user
  step-by-step.
• The device analyses the person’s heart rhythm and determines whether a shock is needed. If a
  shock is required, the AED will deliver it automatically, so no specialised medical knowledge is
  necessary.
• It is encouraged for anyone to use an AED if they see someone experiencing sudden cardiac
  arrest (SCA), especially because survival rates improve dramatically with early defibrillation.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest occurs unexpectedly when the heart’s rhythm becomes chaotic, stopping blood circulation. This leads to oxygen deprivation in the brain, causing collapse, loss of consciousness, and cessation of breathing. SCA can affect anyone, at any time, regardless of age.

A defibrillator (AED) is designed to recognise dangerous heart rhythms during sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). If the heart’s rhythm is abnormal and shockable, the device delivers a carefully measured electric shock through sticky pads placed on the chest. This shock helps reset the heart back to its normal rhythm.
Some AEDs deliver the shock automatically, while others ask the user to press a button when prompted. All AEDs give clear voice and visual instructions, so anyone can use one confidently in an emergency.

A CPAD is a defibrillator that has been placed in a secure, weatherproof cabinet in a public place so it can be accessed 24/7. You’ll often find them at locations such as village halls, shops, schools, pubs, or even repurposed telephone boxes.
Each CPAD should be registered on The Circuit, the national defibrillator database, which connects directly with ambulance services. This ensures that in an emergency, 999 operators can direct callers to the nearest available AED.

Yes! Fast access to a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death in cases of sudden cardiac arrest. Research shows that immediate CPR combined with defibrillation can increase survival rates from less than 10% to over 70%.
While busy public areas are important, it’s worth noting that around 78% of SCAs happen at home. Communities in rural or remote areas, where ambulance response times may be longer, benefit hugely from having a local CPAD site available around the clock.

CPADs are designed to be flexible and can be installed in many accessible, visible, and well-lit locations, for example:

• On the outside walls of community buildings (pubs, shops, schools, churches, village halls, leisure centres)

• Inside old telephone boxes converted into AED kiosks

• In public spaces that are well-lit and easy to reach quickly

• On sites with a power supply for heated cabinets, or using solar-powered cabinets in remote areas

The key is visibility and accessibility – ideally, an AED should be within a two-minute walk for local residents.

A defibrillator cabinet protects the AED so it can be stored outdoors and accessed at any time. Most cabinets are heated and insulated, ensuring the AED remains at the correct temperature. Without protection, cold weather can cause damage to the pads and cause the battery to drain more quickly, reducing the AED’s reliability.

They often have a key code lock for security. In an emergency, the 999 operator will provide the code so the AED can be retrieved. Cabinets also usually feature internal lighting, making them easy to locate and use in the dark.

When someone calls 999 in a suspected cardiac arrest, the ambulance service operator will:

1. Guide the caller through CPR.

2. Direct them to the nearest CPAD.

3. Provide the access code for the cabinet.

The AED can then be collected, and the rescuer simply follows its step-by-step voice instructions.

A deployment is when an AED is taken out of its cabinet during an emergency. This doesn’t always mean it was used; sometimes it’s collected but not required.

If it has been used, the community AED guardian is notified so they can restock consumables like pads, check the battery, and return the AED to full readiness. AEDdonate provides full support to guardians after any deployment to ensure everything is quickly back in place.

No, training is not required. AEDs are designed for use by the general public and will talk you through every step with clear voice and visual prompts. They are designed to only deliver a shock if it is needed, so you cannot make a mistake.
That said, training can boost confidence. We provide free online awareness sessions, and we recommend them so people feel more comfortable in an emergency.

AEDs are very safe to use. They constantly monitor the patient’s heart rhythm and will only deliver a shock if it’s necessary. This means it’s virtually impossible to harm someone by attempting to use an AED.
They are built to protect both the rescuer and the patient, ensuring lifesaving action can be taken without fear of causing damage.

No. UK law protects members of the public who step in to help in an emergency. “Good Samaritan” protections mean you cannot be sued for attempting to save someone’s life with an AED.

The Resuscitation Council UK offers further guidance on AEDs, CPR, and the law. The key message is that doing something is always better than doing nothing.