As part of its annual safety and winter maintenance campaign, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is calling on organisations to verify that the recommended safety and maintenance updates for any automated external defibrillator (AED) on their premises have been undertaken.  

 

The HPRA is issuing this advice as it has identified some 940 defibrillators in Ireland, incorporating five particular models, where a corrective action remains outstanding. The five models for which corrective actions may be needed to ensure they work effectively are as follows:

 

 

Updates to 940 of these AEDs are needed immediately to ensure that the devices will work as necessary in a life-saving situation. If you are in possession of one of the above models, please review the maintenance history and / or contact the manufacturer / distributor to ensure all necessary updates have been applied. In you are in any doubt as to the status of the AED, please contact the manufacturer or supplier immediately. Where a corrective action is required, they can ensure that it is carried out without further delay.

 

In addition, the HPRA reminds owners of all AED devices that weather (temperatures / humidity) can affect a defibrillator’s performance and all AEDs should be stored correctly and regularly checked during the winter months. Appropriate storage and maintenance compliance systems and checks are of the utmost importance to the functioning of these potentially life-saving devices. 

 

An information leaflet developed by the HPRA to assist owners of AED devices manage their devices is available to download on www.hpra.ie or by contacting Anne Tobin

 

Anne Tobin, 

Medical Devices Vigilance Manager

Health Products Regulatory Authority 

Kevin O’Malley House

Earlsfort Centre

Earlsfort Terrace

Dublin 2

PH: 01 676 4971