The 5 Best AED for Church

Editor’s Choice

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• Simple to use
• Clear and calm
• With step-by-step instructions that walk the rescuer through from beginning to end

Best Overall

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• Step-by-step voice commands and CPR guidance provide real-time guidance.
• Easily converts to an AED trainer when you attach training pads
• It comes with a slim AED Carry Case

Budget-Friendly

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• Easy to understand
• Handy and portable
• Long-life Battery

If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best AED for the church is, then I’d recommend the Philips HeartStart Home AED Defibrillator Value Package as the best one.

One lifesaver in emergencies is an Automated External Defibrillator or AED.

450,000 Americans experience the ill effects of abrupt heart failure (SCA) consistently. That is very nearly 8,700 individuals each week (one individual like clockwork). Thus, it makes sense why AEDs are highly essential for the church. 

Here are the Best AED for Church we will be reviewing:

• Philips HeartStart Home AED Defibrillator Value Package
• Philips HeartStart Ready Pack AED Defibrillator
• Prestan Single AED UltraTrainer
• Prestan Take2 CPR Manikin & AED Ultra-Trainer Kit
• Philips HeartStart M5066A-CO2 OnSite AED Defibrillator

What is the Best AED for Church?

All Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) can save people suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Your church must be equipped with an AED – regardless of which brand or model. 

Defibrillators are devices that restore a normal heartbeat by sending an electric pulse or shock to the heart. They are used to prevent or correct an arrhythmia, a heartbeat that is uneven, or that is too slow or too fast. Defibrillators can also restore the heart’s beating if the heart suddenly stops.

For the best chance of survival from the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest, a shock from a defibrillator should be delivered within the first few minutes of collapse.

Here are common considerations in purchasing the best AED for the church:

Easy to use

It is a must that the best AED for church is easy to use and not complicated to begin with. Emergencies require easy and quick action. So AEDs with too many complications in their directions may delay the intended quick remedy to an emergency and result in fatalities. If the AED is excessively complicated, it may not be viable for saving lives. You need a gadget that anybody can rapidly use to start giving electric shocks to the patient. 

Reliability of the device

The dependability of the best AED for church is additionally significant. Cheaper prices can be tempting to purchase because they save up lots of money from the funds of the church. But it tends to only prolong the agony of an incident. For instance, a churchgoer suffers from cardiac arrest, and the AED available does not provide enough force to keep the person from suffering more. The best AED for church should come from a trusted company that has a solid record of excellence. You ought to likewise guarantee that the AED maker is in business. If the organization isn’t around any longer, you might experience difficulty discovering new parts, like batteries or pads. 

Good storage

The best AED for church comes with personalized cases where they can be stored for safety. It’s also advisable to purchase AEDs which come with a case for greater insurance of its safety and prolonging its effectiveness. 

Recommended AED Accessories for Church

Here are the accessories for you to invest in when getting the best AED for a church:

Backpack

A special backpack will make emergency response convenient while securing your defibrillation machine. Simply pack the AED and accessories inside the backpack. So you can carry them safely and fast towards the patient.

Cabinet

You should have a cabinet for your AED and other medical supplies to prepare for any health crisis. It protects the AED securely, especially if it’s customized to the design and model of the device.

Signage

It can guide anyone who will use the equipment on what to do and what to avoid. Signage is essential, especially for non-experts. It ensures that directions and guidance are surely presented amidst the absence of medical experts.

How Does an AED Work?

An AED is the main treatment for a casualty of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). This device delivers a defibrillation shock to the victim to restart their heart into a normal rhythm, so their heart pumps blood normally again. As a rule, when an AED is appropriately applied to a patient’s chest, the AED will read the patient’s heart rhythm. It will possibly trigger a defibrillation shock in case they are in Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).

How To Prepare Your Church to Use an AED

Here are the key steps so your church can prepare to use an AED.

1. Distinguish WHO will be liable for the AEDs and SCA Response Planning. Determine the person in charge of  AED maintenance and the emergency response plan. Always ensure that there is someone responsible for using the AEDs. 
2. Inform and train all regular churchgoers and church staff on using the AED.  Ensure that there will be people who can use the AED, despite not having medical experts onsite. For good measure, you should inform the community as AEDs are not only important at large venues but also at home. AEDs should serve as first aid kits that can be easily accessed anytime.
3. Establish a Cardiac Emergency Response Team (CERT) & Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP). This handles leading response efforts in case of an SCA crisis. The CERT must have 5 to 10 individuals who are at the church always. All CERT members should be CPR/AED certified.

How to maintain your church AED

Maintaining your church AED is a two-fold initiative. 

1. Maintain your user training certifications and CERP – You need to make sure that the people tasked with the use of the AED are well-trained and certified. You can sponsor the CPR/AED certification for your church’s CERT members. Review the CERP annually to see if it needs updating. And most importantly, conduct regular SCA Emergency Response Drills in your church.
2. Device Maintenance – All AEDs require progressing upkeep and oversight. In particular, electrode pads and batteries expire and require replacements. Furthermore, all AEDs need regular checkups to guarantee the gadget is “Prepared” to use in a crisis. 

Why Get An AED for Your Church?

Approximately 450,000 Americans suffer from sudden cardiac arrest anytime and anywhere. This is the main cause of death in America. So AEDs are important not only in bigger venues and public spaces but even in churches and at home. Providing a three-minute response time with AEDs can be the difference between life and death.

Regardless of whether your church has 25 or 2,500 members, you need to get the best AED for the church. Consider that 350,000 Americans a year experience abrupt heart failure. But you can prevent this tragedy with an AED. 

Are AEDs legally required in churches?

Unfortunately, by law, religious associations are not required to have AEDs. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t.

These life-saving gadgets are very crucial for each church. The bigger the congregation, the higher the probability of a heart attack. 

And if you don’t have them in your church, the church leaders risk legal action or neglect of duty. This is if a parishioner dies from a cardiac emergency without receiving medical help.

An AED gives significant serenity to you, your staff, and your assembly. At some point, it might even save a life.

Factors in Choosing an AED for Church

When it comes to finding the best AED for your church, you need to consider a lot of factors.

Total Cost of Ownership

This is particularly significant for church financial plans. Before buying an AED, you need to consider the total costs. So you can plan, and if essential, raise money properly. Consolidate the upfront price with the consequent expense of replacing supplies like AED batteries and electrode pads. Find an AED with a lower TCO.

Connectivity and Storage Options

Most AED units don’t have any connectivity features. So these require manual checkups each month. So better get an AED with connectivity so you remove the additional burden of physically checking AEDs.

Size and Weight

An AED should be portable. So you can take it wherever somebody experiences Sudden Cardiac Arrest. This is significant for religious associations that have huge or wide offices.  Having versatile AEDs quickly accessible makes fast defibrillation. And thus, the victim’s survival is almost certain.

Capabilities

Here are the different capabilities your AED must have:

Pediatric

People of all ages are vulnerable to cardiac arrest. More than 9000 children in America suffer from SCA annually. So you need an AED that also works for children, adapted to trigger less shock than in adults.

For convenience and less difficult support, buy an AED that has a pediatric button and electrode pads (which can be utilized for both grown-ups and kids). By squeezing the pediatric button, the gadget will consequently lessen the defibrillation energy down to a proper level for a pediatric patient. A lot less complex and simpler.

Multi-language

You need a model that shifts between languages, mostly English and Spanish instructions.

Configurations

All AED makers sell two versions: semi-automatic and fully automatic. In emergencies, response time is crucial. Along these lines, when the AED machine confirms that a patient has a shockable cadence, it’s integral to trigger a shock as fast as could be expected.

Semi-automatic AEDs

In Semi-automatic AEDs, a user has to press a shock button to deliver the defib shock to the victim.

Fully-automatic AEDs

Fully automatic AEDs instantly deliver the shock upon detecting the shockable heart rhythm in the patient.

Ease of Use

Many churches don’t have trained medical personnel on-site at all times. So you need to get an AED that’s easy for the laity to manipulate. And whenever there’s an emergency, anyone can respond to the victim’s plight. 

Your Church Budget

Above all, you should consider your budget when choosing your AED. You need to find a device that suits your church finances. Get an AED with a low TCO.

Here are the best AEDs for church you can buy:

Philips HeartStart Home AED Defibrillator Value Package 

If you want an efficient Automated External Defibrillator for church services, Philips HeartStart Home AED Defibrillator Value Package would make an excellent choice. This expertly designed AED is a fine tool for prompt emergency response. This will help you save many lives, no matter what happens in your church.

My favorite feature of this AED is its beginner-friendly design. It works with full step-by-step voice commands on CPR guidance in real time. When it comes to maintenance, it has an auto self-test every day. I love using this, especially in our church, where both clergy and parishioners are mostly seniors. This has helped save many lives of our church members on several occasions. Some of these times occurred even during church services, and we did not panic because we had this AED.

Another impressive thing about this defib is it ships with HeartStart Home AED Defibrillator, pre-installed battery, pre-installed adult SMART pads cartridge, quick setup guide, maintenance booklet, quick reference guide, owner’s manual, Slim AED Carry Case, training DVD, one adult AED Training Pads Cartridge, AED Wall Mount, and American Red Cross Deluxe Personal Safety Emergency Pack.

Pros:

• Step-by-step voice commands and CPR guidance provide real-time guidance.
• Easily converts to an AED trainer when you attach training pads
• It comes with a slim AED Carry Case.
• It is designed for ease of use and prompt response.
• Includes a quick setup guide and a quick reference guide
• It comes equipped with integrated adult AED SMART pads.

Cons:

• Training pads are sold separately.

Philips HeartStart Ready Pack AED Defibrillator

Need a versatile emergency tool? Philips HeartStart Ready Pack AED Defibrillator can be a great addition to your church. Combining best-in-class technology with a simple, beginner-friendly design, you can respond to sudden cardiac arrest emergencies effortlessly. This versatile defib offers advanced technology sought after by emergency medical professionals. It also helps the public be prepared to save lives during an SCA emergency. 

The AED Ready Pack Value Package comes with a Standard AED Carry Case, which includes a pair of paramedic scissors in addition to the defibrillator. The Ready Pack Value Package also includes adult AED SMART pads and battery already installed, a spare set of adult AED SMART pads, a 9-inch by 6-inch AED Wall Sign to provide greater visibility for your defibrillator, a Fast Response Kit that contains tools and supplies typically needed for patient care and personal protection, and an AED Wall Mount designed for placing the Heart Start Defibrillator and its accessories within reach.

Pros:

• Simple to use
• Clear and calm
• With step-by-step instructions that walk the rescuer through from beginning to end
• It comes equipped with integrated adult AED SMART pads
• Bilingual option available

Cons:

• Training pads are sold separately.

Prestan Single AED UltraTrainer

Simple and affordable is always a good goal for church equipment, and the Prestan Single AED UltraTrainer ticks these two traits as a first-responder tool. Even if it doesn’t offer as many features as its competitors, it still packs enough functionality for anyone to use at church.

The Prestan AED UltraTrainer offers features not found on any other universal AED trainer and is the most accurate representation of how current AEDs in the marketplace perform. This compact and lightweight unit will give students a realistic training experience with training pads that sense when they are placed on a manikin.

In addition, the pads are preconnected, and voice prompts are clear and calm. Instructors can customize their training classes with options to turn on or off the compression metronome and/or the “give breaths” voice prompt. With a 3-year warranty and durable, long-lasting pads, the AED UltraTrainer was built to last.

Pros:

• Upgradable when standards change
• The metronome can be turned off.
• Dual graphic (Adult/Child) training pads
• Pad sensing system
• 3 Year Warranty

Cons:

• No dual-language functionality
• Requires buying separate pads to administer to children

Prestan Take2 CPR Manikin & AED Ultra-Trainer Kit

Need a training tool for emergency response situations? The PRESTAN TAKE2® Kit is a powerful set of manikins and AED for optimum CPR performance.

This set packs Prestan’s professional manikins (two Adults and two Infants) with two AED UltraTrainers®. The manikins have an innovative CPR Rate Monitor for instant feedback during training. It offers realistic training scenarios of emergency response, including SCAs.

It works in full compliance with all medical technology industry guidelines. 

Pros:

• Great starter kit
• Pre-programmed training
• Dual language capacity (English and Spanish)
• Easy to use
• Durable
• Affordable
• Handy On/Off Metronome
• Three-year warranty
• Compliant with American Heart Association (AHA) 2015 guidelines for AED training

Cons:

• Long setup time
• Minor performance issues

Philips HeartStart M5066A-CO2 OnSite AED Defibrillator

The Philips HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator guides you through the process of treating a victim of suspected sudden cardiac arrest. It provides real-time guidance through step-by-step voice commands and CPR guidance. 

It is made for people who have never used a defibrillator before. The first and only defibrillator available without a prescription in the United States, it is designed to be easy to set up and use.

Just pull the green handle to activate your Philips HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator, and voice instructions will guide you through the entire process – from placing each pad on the patient to performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and delivering a defibrillation shock. It even guides you on the frequency and depth of chest compressions, as well as breaths.

The Philips HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator is designed for use on adults over 25 kg. or 55 lbs. and infants and children under 25 kg or 55 lbs. or 0-8 years old. SMART Analysis automatically assesses the person’s heart rhythm. If a non-shockable rhythm is detected, the Philips HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator will not provide a shock and will prompt the user to perform CPR if needed.

Pros:

• Easy to understand
• Handy and portable
• Long-life Battery
• Fast shock delivery
• Simple to maintain

Cons:

• Beeping issues
• Requires separate pads for pediatric capabilities

Conclusion

With automated external defibrillators, churches can provide medical intervention to their congregation. It is essential to save people from SCA, perform CPR, and prevent liabilities for the church. It is a necessary investment for the church services.

The best AED for church I’d recommend is the Philips HeartStart Home AED Defibrillator Value Package. This defibrillator for church services is great for immediate emergency response. It is very easy to use with full guidance through voice commands on CPR in real-time. It also works with a Smart Analysis feature that automatically assesses the cardiac rhythm. And its Quick Shock delivers a shock within eight seconds after CPR. Best of all, this affordable AED is approved by medical professionals worldwide.