The term “Guardian” is used to describe the person who takes on the responsibility of an inspection of a cabinet along with the defibrillator and rescue breath emergency kit. It normally takes 2 to 3 minutes and is recommended to be undertaken once every two weeks.
The responsibility for carrying out the checks is very important and gives an opportunity to report any findings or malfunctioning of the defibrillator. This is most rare and only occurs if perhaps the battery needs replacing but most defibrillators indicate a pre-warning light or tone.
The “Guardian” then returns an Observation and Maintenance Checklist, which is completed via the internet and forwarded by email to AED Locator (E.U.) Ltd. This information is then stored and will be available to remind the Guardian (or the persons responsible for the defibrillator/cabinet) that the pads and/or battery needs replacing.
A pilot "Guardian" scheme has been working successfully since 2007 in the Chew Valley area of North Somerset (about 9 miles south of Bristol) where sixteen defibrillators are now located and the numbers growing on a weekly basis.
In many cases the inspection is carried out by the owner of the property where the cabinet is located. This may be a shop, Post Office, pub, private residence etc. In other cases where the cabinet is on a public building such as a village hall, sports centre, community centre, school etc then it may be an appointed person who attends the premises on a frequent basis who acts as the Guardian.
Knowing that the cabinet and defibrillator has been inspected is just another way of giving peace of mind and reassurance to the community. It is important that the defibrillator is in full working order just in case there is a need for it to be accessed should a Cardiac Arrest be reported.
AED Locator has supported and promoted the Arrhythmia Alliance Charity since 2007 when the first defibrillator was placed in a cabinet in Chew Magna, Somerset, outside the offices of Setter & Lee Estate Agents.
Arrhythmia Alliance will support and manage the placement of AEDs on this website. This includes both newly installed cabinets containing AEDs as well as existing AEDs that are held in public places (such as Doctors' Surgeries, Sports Centres) but with restricted access. Arrhythmia Alliance vigorusly encourages and promotes that any person or organisation owning an AED, places it in a cabinet in an accessible public location. This means that the community as a whole can benefit from having immediate access to this life saving equipment in the event of a suspected Sudden Cardiac Arrest.