Importance of Maintenance Management

Overview

Since July 2004, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has provided guidelines on the use and handling of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) by citizens present at emergency scenes. As a result, AEDs have been widely adopted not only in medical institutions but also in schools, train stations, public facilities, and commercial facilities.
On the other hand, AEDs are designated as highly controlled medical devices and specific maintenance-controlled medical devices under the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act, and if not properly managed, they can have a significant impact on human life and health.
From this, it is important to thoroughly maintain and manage AEDs more than ever to prevent serious incidents, such as being unable to perform effectively due to mismanagement.

Matters to be addressed by AED Installers

The person responsible for daily inspections of the installed AED should be designated by the installer, and daily inspections should be conducted in accordance with the attached documents and the instruction manual.

Role of the Inspection Officer

Implementation of Daily Inspections

Please check every day that the color and display of the AED indicator lamp indicate that the AED is in a usable condition.

Management of Consumables

Consumables (electrode pads and batteries) need to be replaced regularly. Indicate the replacement timing of consumables and attach a display label to the AED body or storage case so that the information can be easily checked from outside. Based on this indication, please keep track of the replacement timing for the electrode pads and batteries, and replace them at the appropriate time.
Please also note that the AED unit has a service life. The service life varies by model, so please check the documents attached to the AED or contact each manufacturer for confirmation.

Response during Consumable Replacement

When replacing the electrode pads or batteries, please use the new display labels or seals attached to the new electrode pads, and indicate the next replacement date before attaching them to the AED.

Regarding the outsourcing of management and maintenance contracts for AEDs

Purchasers or installers of AEDs can also enter into maintenance contracts with AED vendors or repair companies to delegate the management of the installed AEDs.