AED pads and batteries: how to check them and order the right replacements
A practical routine for facility managers, HSE teams and school administrators who look after AEDs, and a checklist for ordering the right replacement pads and batteries.
An AED is only ready to use when its pads and battery are in date and its status indicator shows it is ready. Write down the pad use-by date and the battery date for every unit, check the status indicator on a fixed schedule, and order replacements for your exact AED model well before those dates arrive.
Why pads and batteries need their own plan
The AED itself can last for years, but its electrode pads and battery are consumables with dates printed on them. Look at the Philips HeartStart FRx as an example. Philips labels each pads case with a use-by date at least two years from manufacture, and each battery with an install-by date at least five years from manufacture. It quotes a typical battery standby life of four years when the battery is stored and maintained as its instructions describe. The device runs automatic self-tests daily, weekly and monthly. A blinking green light means it is ready, and an audible chirp means it needs maintenance.
The manufacturer's listing for the Amoul i3 describes a lithium manganese dioxide battery rated for at least 200 shocks at 200 J, and daily self-tests that report the device status. It also lists use on children at 50 J with special electrodes, so check that you hold the right pads if children may be present at your site.
Every model is different, so treat these as examples. The instructions for use supplied with your AED are the reference for its dates, indicators and intervals.
Heat and storage in Qatar
AEDs have a stated operating and standby temperature range. For the HeartStart FRx it is 0 to 50 °C. Summer temperatures in Qatar can push a parked vehicle or an unshaded outdoor cabinet beyond the range of many devices. Check your model's range before you place an AED in a vehicle, at an outdoor site or in a plant room, and choose a cabinet location that stays within it.
A simple checking routine
Agree a routine, name the person responsible for each AED, and set the intervals in your site procedure. Where your manufacturer's instructions give different intervals, follow the instructions.
| Check | What to look for | Suggested timing |
|---|---|---|
| Status indicator | The ready signal described in your manual. No warning light or alert tone | Each routine check, for example weekly |
| Pads use-by date | Date on the sealed pads package fitted to the AED, and on any spare set | Monthly, and when you plan the budget |
| Battery date | Install-by or expiry date on the battery label, and any battery warning on the device | Monthly |
| Pads for children | Paediatric pads or the child mode accessory your model uses, if children may be present | Monthly |
| Packaging | Pads package sealed and undamaged | Monthly |
| Location | Cabinet or wall bracket accessible, signage visible, cabinet alarm working if fitted | Monthly |
Keep a simple log
One line per AED is enough. Record the location, brand and model, serial number, pads part number and use-by date, battery part number and date, the date of the last check, who checked it, and any action taken. With this log you can see which units expire next, order in time and show your checks to an auditor or client.
If you manage AEDs at several sites, line up the replacement dates where you can. One order then covers a whole group of units, and fewer devices drift out of date between orders.
Ordering the right replacement
Pads and batteries are model-specific. Philips, for example, specifies its FRx SMART Pads II for the HeartStart FRx. Use only the pads and battery your manufacturer specifies for your model. When you ask for a quotation, send us:
- The AED brand and model, for example Amoul i3 or Philips HeartStart FRx (861304)
- The part number printed on your current pads package and battery
- Whether you need adult pads, paediatric pads or both
- The current expiry dates, so the replacements arrive before them
- The quantity, and the site in Qatar where they are needed
These are the pad and battery types in our catalogue. We confirm availability, shelf life and lead time in each quotation.
| Consumable | Models listed in our catalogue |
|---|---|
| Electrode pads | Philips HeartStart FRx SMART Pads II (989803139261); other Philips HeartStart pads (model to confirm); Heart Guardian HR-501, P-303; HeartPlus NT-180; Mediana (model to confirm); Life-Point Electropad V1 (Pro adult and adult) |
| Batteries | Amoul i3 / i5 (12 V 4.5 Ah Li-MnO2); Philips HeartStart (M5070A); Philips FR2 Plus; Heart Guardian; Mediana; Life-Point |
After the AED has been used
After any use, follow the manufacturer's instructions for returning the AED to service before it goes back in its cabinet. Make sure an in-date set of pads is fitted and the status indicator shows ready, and record the event in your log.
Planning a budget
From your log, list the pad and battery dates for the next twelve months, then group the replacements into one or two orders a year. Add a spare set of pads for each AED if your procedure calls for one, plus paediatric pads where children may be present. Lead times vary by brand, so order well before the earliest date on your list.
Products mentioned in this guide
Send us your AED brand and model, the part number on your current pads or battery and the expiry dates, and we will reply with an itemised QAR quotation.
Sources
- Philips HeartStart FRx AED technical specifications (model 861304), accessed 31 October 2026
- Philips AED shop: HeartStart FRx SMART Pads II (989803139261), accessed 31 October 2026
- Ambulanc (Shenzhen): semi-automatic external defibrillator AED i3, manufacturer listing on MedicalExpo, accessed 31 October 2026
This guide covers equipment selection and upkeep. It is not medical or legal advice: follow your device's instructions for use and your organisation's safety procedures.