Defibrillator buying guide

Did you know that survival can reach as high as 70% when a defibrillator is used before paramedics arrive? Defibrillators are simple, effective, and ready to help you save lives.

Defibrillator buying guide

Did you know that survival can reach as high as 70% when a defibrillator is used before paramedics arrive? Defibrillators are simple, effective, and ready to help you save lives.

What is an AED?
(Automated external defibrillator)

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable life-saving device. It’s easy to use, giving the casualty’s heart an electric shock when it has stopped beating following sudden cardiac arrest.

Defibrillators can be used on adults or children over the age of one.

Every minute counts.

More than 30,000 Australians suffer from sudden cardiac arrest each year. As little as 5% survive without an automated external defibrillator (AED).

A victim’s chance of survival decreases by 10% with every minute that passes.

A defibrillator is simple, effective, and easy to use by anyone – with clear, spoken instructions that talk you through what to do when it’s activated.

Why choose a St John Ambulance NSW defibrillator?

Simple 

As soon as the first aider opens the defibrillator case, a calm, clear voice delivers simple instructions about how to use it.

Fast 

Our defibrillators can quickly detect when the first aider has completed a step and is ready for the next instructions. The guidance comes through voice and text, so it’s easy to use in noisy environments, or for those hard of hearing.

Automated 

Our St John Ambulance NSW defibrillators are sophisticated, intelligent and automated. It will assess and advise when a shock will be administered, personalised to every person or child based on their body type.

FAQs

Defibrillators are a crucial life-saving device, but a lot of people don’t know about them! We understand that sometimes people and businesses are hesitant to buy one, especially if they don’t fully understand how important they can be in emergency situations.

So, we’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions to help.

Can a defibrillator kill the patient?

No! You absolutely cannot do ‘extra’ harm with a defibrillator. These medical devices will only deliver an electrical shock to the heart of someone who needs it. The defibrillator measures the heartbeat of the patient and will only administer a shock if needed.

Can a defibrillator do more harm to the patient?

Remember… if someone has suffered a cardiac arrest, they are already technically dead. Using a defibrillator and administering CPR offers the best chance of restoring life. Chances of survival are 70% higher when a defibrillator is used before paramedics arrive.

Can it accidentally shock the person using it?

No! It is impossible to give a shock to the heart of someone who does not need one. They are completely safe to the rescuer.

Is it easy to use?

Yes. Defibrillators are designed to be used by anyone – whether you have a medical background or not! Defibrillators use a series of illustrations and calm voice prompts to guide you through the whole process, step by step – so you don’t even need training on how to use one.

Do I need to be trained to use a defibrillator (AED)?

While St John Ambulance NSW offers training and recommends it for confidence and familiarity, you do not need training to use a defibrillator. If you enrol in our first aid training courses, you’ll most likely see our trained facilitators demonstrating how to use a defibrillator. Anyone can and should use a defibrillator if there’s an emergency.

When should a defibrillator be used?

A defibrillator should be used when you believe someone has suffered a cardiac arrest. That means the individual is unconscious and showing no visible signs of life.

Could I use a defibrillator in the rain, or if the person is wet? 

Yes. Just make sure the person’s chest is dried off as much as possible and try to seek shelter if you can.

Could I use a defibrillator on a pregnant woman?

Absolutely. A mother will need to be resuscitated so that the unborn baby can survive.

Can a defibrillator be used on both adults and children?

Yes. Often, there are different pads in the defibrillator kit – in different sizes for a child's body compared to an adult's body. This makes it safer for children, but never hesitate to use a defibrillator on a child, even if there are only larger pads available. The defibrillator will measure the heartbeat and know this is a child, so will only deliver the shock needed for a child, which is different to the shock needed for an adult. As the user or rescuer, you don’t need to do anything differently.

Resources

Workplace Defibrillator Guide (PDF)
​Learn more about the difference between our G3 and G5 defibrillators, and which one is right for your needs.
CPR Fact Sheet
If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, you need to call 000 for emergency help and start CPR immediately.

Our range of defibrillators

St John Ambulance NSW has two high-quality defibrillators available, and a range of accessories. Defibrillators not only bring confidence to the first aider in emergency situations – they’re also proven to enhance CPR performance with clear, calm and simple instructions. For the best chance of survival following cardiac arrest – shop for defibrillators today.

Defibrillator accessories

Defibrillators need to be mounted in a cabinet. There are a few other things we recommend you keep in the cabinet.

Register your defibrillator

We are proud to have played a part in the launch of the Service NSW Defibrillator Registry in 2022.

As an organisation that both teaches people how to deal confidently with a cardiac arrest and whose volunteers have seen first-hand the benefit of using a defibrillator quickly in an emergency, this will undoubtedly help to improve community access and overall safety in NSW.

Want to learn more about your compliance obligations as an employer?

Book a consultation with our team to learn more about your specific workplace compliance requirements.

Related advice

How to do CPR on an adult

If an adult is unresponsive and not breathing normally, you need to call 000 for emergency help and start CPR straight away. Learn what to do.

CPR on an infant

If an infant is unresponsive and not breathing normally, you need to call 000 for emergency help and start CPR straight away. Learn what to do.

DRSABCD action plan

The St John DRSABCD Action Plan is crucial in assessing whether a patient has any life-threatening conditions and if any immediate first aid is necessary.

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