How to Choose the Right AED for a Healthcare or Care Setting in Ireland
Choosing an automated external defibrillator (AED) for a healthcare or care setting involves more than comparing prices and features. Hospitals, nursing homes, residential care facilities and community care environments all have different needs, so the equipment should be selected with the people, building and emergency response in mind. For organisations looking at defibrillators, the aim should be to choose a reliable device that is straightforward to use, practical to maintain and suitable for the environment where it will be installed. Start With a Risk Assessment Before choosing an AED, consider the risks and circumstances of the facility. Think about the number of residents, patients, staff and visitors present, the size of the building, working hours and how quickly an AED could be retrieved during an emergency. A small residential care facility may have very different requirements from a large healthcare campus with several floors and multiple departments. The location and acc...