Where You Place Your AED Can Make the Difference Between Life and Death

Think You’re Covered Because You Own an AED? Think Again.

Having an AED on-site is a big step—but it’s not the final one. In a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), time is everything. We’re talking seconds. And if your AED is hidden in a back room, locked in an office, or three flights up—there’s a good chance it won’t get there in time to save a life.

The goal of this article isn’t to scare you. It’s to help you rethink where your AED lives and make sure it's actually ready when someone needs it most.

Why AED Placement Matters So Much

Most cardiac arrests don’t happen in hospitals. They happen at gyms. Offices. Airports. Schools. Malls. In fact, 70% of cardiac arrests happen at home or in public places, and most people don’t get help in time.

Every minute without defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by 7 to 10%. That means if you can’t get to the AED and back in 3 minutes—you’re already running out of time.

So, Where Should You Place Your AED?

Here’s the thing—visibility and access are everything.

Some practical placement tips:

High traffic areas: Lobbies, reception desks, near elevators, break rooms.
Where the risk is high: Gyms, pools, factories, or any place with physical exertion or machinery.
Public-facing places: Restaurants, malls, airports—anywhere crowds gather.

And keep this in mind: If someone unfamiliar walks in, could they find the AED in under a minute without asking?

If not, that’s a problem.

Don’t Overlook These Best Practices

🔹 Keep it mounted at the right height

Mount your AED cabinet no higher than 48 inches from the ground. This isn't just an ADA rule—it ensures people of all heights and abilities can reach it fast.

🔹 Avoid locked doors and back offices

What good is an AED if it's behind a locked manager’s office on the weekend?

🔹 Put up clear signs

Install bright, visible signs above or next to the AED. In a panic, no one has time to guess.

🔹 Think in minutes, not feet

A good rule of thumb: No one should be more than 90 seconds away from an AED. That includes time to find it, get to it, and bring it back.

Have More Than One? Great. Now Make Sure They’re Spread Out.

If you run a large facility—multiple floors, big warehouses, or separate buildings—you’ll likely need more than one AED. Just having “an AED on-site” is not enough if it’s impossible to reach when it matters.

And Let’s Talk Maintenance—It’s Not Optional

An AED is a life-saving device—but only if it’s ready when you need it. A dead battery, expired pads, or even an outdated model can cost someone their life.

Most people remember to replace parts like pads and batteries. That’s good—but it’s not enough.

AEDs don’t last forever. Just like any device, they have a shelf life. After 8–10 years, many AED models are no longer supported by manufacturers. That means no software updates, no replacement parts, and no guarantees. If yours is approaching end-of-life, it’s time to think about renewing the entire device—not just replacing components.

You can learn more about when and why to upgrade your AED on our AED Renewal & Maintenance page.

In the meantime, here’s what you should be doing regularly:

✅ Assign someone to check the AED monthly.
📋 Keep a log of each checkup.
🔋 Check battery charge and expiration.
🩹 Inspect pads for expiry or damage.
⚠️ Make sure the AED isn’t beeping, showing error lights, or missing parts.
🧾 Verify your model is still supported—no longer being manufactured is a red flag.

Because the worst time to find out your AED doesn’t work, is when someone’s life depends on it.

Laws Are on Your Side—But Only If You Do Your Part

Good Samaritan laws protect people who try to help during emergencies, including AED use. But there’s a catch—if you’re the AED owner (a business, school, gym), you’re expected to maintain it properly and follow your state’s rules.

Some states require:

AEDs to be registered with local EMS
Regular maintenance logs
Staff CPR/AED training
Proper signage

Check your local laws. Don’t assume. Protect yourself by staying prepared.

Final Thoughts

No one wants to imagine someone collapsing at their workplace or school. But it happens. And when it does, **what you did months ago—where you placed the AED, how visible it was, whether it worked—**becomes the difference between life and death.

Let AED Awareness Week (June 1–7) be your reminder to do a checkup. Not just on the device, but on your readiness.

AEDs don’t save lives. People do. But only when they’re prepared.