What is the best place for a defibrillator?

It's essential to deploy a defibrillator as quickly as possible to increase the likelihood of survival for a person suffering from cardiac arrest. As a result, it's crucial to position the defibrillator in a location that is easy to access. This blog post will provide information on the best placement for a defibrillator to increase the chances of saving a life.

The Best Place for a defibrillator Outdoors

When placing a defibrillator outdoors, it is essential to choose a location that is safe, visible and easily accessible. The placement should not require emergency workers to cross a busy street to reach the defibrillator. Avoid direct sunlight and hang the defibrillator in the shade or under a shelter. An outdoor defibrillator cabinet with thermostatically controlled heating and ventilation is ideal with an electricity connection.

The Best Place for a defibrillator Indoors

When placing a defibrillator indoors, such as in a company or gym, it is advisable to store or hang it in a central and well-visited location. For example, the entrance or canteen could be a good place. The defibrillator must be visible and hung with a sign with the defibrillator pictogram. Store the defibrillator in a bag, wall holder, cabinet, or close to other first aid items.

A defibrillator in an unlocked cabinet

It is common practice to store a defibrillator in an outdoor cabinet with a lock or PIN code. However, it is not advisable to do so, as time is crucial in resuscitation scenarios. Every second is critical during resuscitation, so it is best to place the defibrillator in a wall cabinet that is easily accessible without a lock. This way, no time is wasted in retrieving the defibrillator. Some maintenance plans include free theft insurance to ease concerns about choosing an unlocked cabinet. It is worth noting that theft of a defibrillator is rare.

A defibrillator within 6 Minutes

It is essential to use a defibrillator within 6 minutes in case of cardiac arrest. Starting CPR within 6 minutes and defibrillating with a defibrillator if there is a shockable cardiac arrhythmia can increase the victim's chance of survival by 50-70%. In the case of large buildings, store the defibrillator in a central location within the 6-minute zone. If necessary, placing multiple defibrillators can be a solution.