September is when buildings fill back up. Staff are back from vacation, schools are open, and workplaces are running at full capacity again. It is also the month when a lot of AEDs quietly become unreliable, because nobody has looked at them since spring.
An AED is only useful if it works the moment someone collapses. Here is the five-minute check we recommend every workplace do this month.
1. Look at the status indicator
Every modern AED has a readiness light or symbol on the front. A green check, a flashing green light, or an “OK” means the device passed its last self-test. A red X, a flashing red light, or a chirping sound means it needs attention right now. If you are not sure what your device is telling you, note the make and model and call us — it takes thirty seconds to find out.
2. Check the pad expiry date
Electrode pads have an expiry date printed on the package. The adhesive gel dries out over time, and expired pads may not stick or may not deliver a proper shock. Most pads last two to five years depending on the brand. If yours are within a few months of expiry, order replacements now rather than discovering the problem during an emergency.
3. Check the battery
AED batteries have a shelf life and an install-by date. A device that has been sitting in a cabinet for four or five years may still show a green light this week and fail next week. Write the install date on a piece of tape inside the cabinet so the next person knows exactly how old it is.
4. Open the rescue kit
The small pouch attached to your AED should contain a razor, a towel, gloves, scissors, and a CPR barrier mask. These get borrowed, used, and forgotten. Confirm everything is there and sealed. A razor matters more than people think — pads will not stick to a hairy chest.
5. Ask three people where the AED is
This is the check that fails most often. Pick three staff members at random and ask them to point to the AED. If any of them hesitate, your signage is not doing its job. The device should be visible from the main corridor, clearly marked with the universal AED sign, and never behind a locked door.
Not sure where you stand?
If your AED is more than eight years old, has been through a recall, or you simply do not know when the pads and battery were last replaced, it may be time to consider a new device. Our most popular workplace unit is the ZOLL AED 3 — we keep it in stock in Ottawa, it has five-year pads and battery, and it coaches the rescuer through CPR with real-time feedback. Every AED package we sell comes complete with an alarmed wall cabinet, wall signage, and a first aid kit, and we offer a trade-in credit on your existing defibrillator plus free CPR and AED training for your staff at our Ottawa training centre.
Bring your questions to us. Call 1-613-726-7587, email info@firstaidplus.ca, or drop by 101-301 Moodie Drive, Nepean. We will tell you honestly whether your current device is fine or whether it is time to upgrade.
First Aid Plus is a veteran-owned Ottawa company. We have sold and delivered more than 500 AEDs so far in 2026 and train thousands of people every year in first aid, CPR and AED use.