AED Maintenance Checklist — Monthly and Annual Inspection Guide

Why AED Maintenance Matters

An AED is a life-saving device that may sit unused for months or years — but when it's needed, it must work immediately, within seconds. An AED that fails when needed could mean a life lost.

According to the AHA (American Heart Association, 2020), up to 24% of public AEDs that lack regular maintenance fail when activated. The main causes:

• Dead battery — AED batteries last 3-5 years but can drain faster in hot or humid environments
• Expired electrode pads — Conductive gel dries out, reducing shock delivery effectiveness. Pads last 2-3 years
• Device damage — Drops, moisture, dust, or electronic component degradation
• AED cabinet issues — Locked, missing signage, or non-functional alarm

Monthly inspections take only 2-3 minutes per device but ensure your AED is 100% ready when an emergency strikes.

Monthly AED Inspection Checklist

Every month, the designated AED coordinator should inspect each device using this checklist. Each inspection takes approximately 2-3 minutes:

1. Check the Status Indicator light — Press the self-test button or check the LED. Green = normal. Red or no light = action required
2. Check electrode pad expiry date — Read the expiry date on the pad packaging. If less than 3 months remaining, order replacements immediately
3. Check battery level — Review the battery level indicator (if available). Replace if below 25%
4. Inspect external condition — Look for cracks, moisture, dust accumulation, or damaged cables
5. Inspect electrode pad packaging — Package must be sealed, not torn, and not swollen
6. Check AED cabinet — Opens normally, alarm functions, AED signage clearly visible
7. Check accessories — Clothing scissors, towel, razor, gloves — all present and not expired
8. Record the inspection — Log the date, inspector name, and results. Keep records for at least 3 years

If any issue is found, address it immediately — do not postpone to next month. A problematic AED should be labeled "Out of Service" until resolved.

Annual AED Inspection Checklist

In addition to monthly checks, conduct an annual deep inspection:

1. Functional test — Power on the device and listen to all voice prompts through the full sequence. Some models have a dedicated test mode — check the user manual
2. Check software version — Some AEDs support firmware updates to improve rhythm analysis algorithms. Contact your distributor for update availability
3. Review replacement schedule — Check when electrode pads and batteries will expire. Plan procurement in advance
4. Review staff training — Verify that designated responders hold current CPR/AED certification. Most certifications are valid for 2 years (AHA, 2020)
5. Verify placement location — Can the AED still be reached within 3 minutes from any point in the building? Have renovations or layout changes affected accessibility?
6. Update emergency plan — Review the Emergency Response Plan to ensure it aligns with current AED locations
7. Check service contracts — Is the device still under warranty or service agreement? When does it expire?

Annual inspections should be performed by a facility manager or safety officer, with records kept separately from monthly logs.

AED Replacement Parts Schedule

AED components have limited lifespans and must be replaced on schedule, even if never used:

Adult electrode pads: - Lifespan: 2-3 years (varies by brand) - Replace when: expiry date reached, packaging swollen, packaging torn - Must be replaced immediately after actual use (single-use only)

Pediatric electrode pads (if applicable): - Lifespan: 2-3 years - Locations with children (schools, swimming pools) should always keep spares

Battery: - Lifespan: 3-5 years (varies by brand and environment) - Replace when: low battery indicator shows, or device fails self-test - High temperatures (such as outdoor AED cabinets in Thailand) cause batteries to degrade faster than rated - Must be replaced immediately after actual use

Carrying case: - Lifespan: 5-7 years or when damaged - Inspect zippers, straps, and accessory compartments

Rescue accessory kit: - Clothing scissors, towel, razor, gloves - Check every 6 months, replace when worn

Order replacement parts at least 1 month before expiry. Do not wait until parts expire — during the wait, the AED is non-functional.

Automated AED Monitoring — Reducing Manual Inspection Burden

For organizations with multiple AEDs, monthly manual inspections become an increasingly significant burden. Automated monitoring systems dramatically reduce this workload.

Amoul AED Network Management Platform:

The Amoul i-Series comes with a built-in network management system. Key features:

• Automatic status reporting — The system reports device status over the network automatically, eliminating manual walk-around inspections
• Battery alerts — Sends notifications when batteries run low, before the device becomes non-functional
• Electrode pad alerts — Notifies when pads approach expiry
• Fault alerts — Reports when the device detects issues during daily self-tests
• Centralized dashboard — View the status of all AEDs across your organization from a single screen

Clear benefits:

A facility with 10 AEDs spends 20-30 minutes monthly on manual inspections. Automated monitoring reduces this to a quick dashboard check.

However, even with automated monitoring, physical inspections (cracks, dust, cabinet condition) should still be performed manually at least every 3 months — sensors cannot detect all physical damage.

See which AEDs support automated management at our AED Comparison page.

Download Free AED Inspection Form

Thunder Venture Group provides free AED inspection forms that work with any AED brand:

Monthly inspection form includes: - Inspection date, inspector name, signature - AED model, serial number, installation location - 8-item inspection checklist (as detailed above) - Pass/Fail checkboxes with notes field - Next inspection date

Annual inspection form includes: - Additional 7-item deep inspection checklist (functional test, software, training, etc.) - Replacement parts schedule table - Service contract status

How to use: 1. Print the form and keep a copy at each AED cabinet 2. Assign a monthly inspection coordinator 3. Set a calendar reminder (1st of every month) 4. Keep inspection records for at least 3 years

Need AED maintenance advice or replacement parts? Contact Thunder Venture Group.

Frequently Asked Questions