The beginning of June marks CPR & AED Awareness Week, encouraging us to empower ourselves and our communities to save lives. We are all reminded to refresh our CPR skills, understand the signs of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and become more familiar with how to find and use automated external defibrillators (AEDs). This week also serves as a vital moment of reflection on how far we have come in terms of public safety, and where we still need to go.
Awareness is an important goal: the more people who know how to recognize and respond to a cardiac emergency, the better. But more than just being aware, we need to be robustly prepared. AEDs are physically in more locations than ever before,1,2 thanks to legislation and robust public health campaigns.3,4 Having access to AEDs in public, work, and retail spaces is amazing, but it should be thought of as a first step rather than an end goal.
AEDs require ongoing oversight to remain ready for rescue. Electrode pads expire and batteries reach the end of their shelf life. Staff members change over time, which can leave organizations with fewer trained responders than they originally had. Documentation requirements and compliance expectations may also change. Without a process in place to anticipate and manage these details, an organization can unknowingly develop vulnerabilities in its emergency preparedness plan.
National data on this remain limited, but industry reports have suggested that approximately 15-20% of AEDs may not be ready for rescue when needed, partially because of maintenance or program oversight issues.5,6 Problems can include expired pads, depleted batteries, or missed inspection schedules.5-7 While the details may vary across settings, the underlying concern remains consistent: a device that appears ready on the wall may not actually be ready during an emergency.
Imagine a cardiac emergency occurring in a workplace or school, only for responders to discover that the battery replacement schedule was overlooked. Imagine realizing that employees who originally received CPR and AED training are no longer with the organization, or that inspection records have not been updated in years. These intricacies depend on systems that must continue functioning long after an AED is purchased.
True readiness is process-dependent, not device-dependent. Organizations with effective AED programs generally view preparedness as an ongoing responsibility rather than a one-time purchase decision. Readiness depends on consistent maintenance, training, documentation, and program oversight. These activities may seem redundant, but it is this redundancy that helps ensure that critical equipment works when it matters most.
CPR & AED Awareness Week provides a useful opportunity for organizations to evaluate their preparedness plan. Is the plan a lifesaving device that was purchased years ago and has not been thought of since? How can we build processes that strengthen the links in the chain of survival? What does this look like in practice?
- Organizations that are looking for a starting point may benefit from reviewing their programs against a structured compliance checklist, such as this AED Program Compliance Checklist.
- For those seeking a broader understanding of AED requirements and best practices, this AED Compliance Guide is a great resource.
- Some organizations may even choose to use structured support systems that simplify ongoing monitoring and program management.
CPR & AED Awareness Week reminds us that we have made incredible progress ensuring that people have access to AEDs in emergencies. This work is critical and ongoing, but it must be supplemented with robust readiness plans. Regular and reliable maintenance, inspections, and training are all part of the preparedness equation. This June, ask yourself: are you ready to rescue in a cardiac emergency?
Sources:
- Weisfeldt ML, Sitlani CM, Ornato JP, et al. Survival after application of automatic external defibrillators before arrival of the emergency medical system: evaluation in the resuscitation outcomes consortium population of 21 million. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010;55(16):1713-1720. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2009.11.077
- Angell SY, McConnell MV, Anderson CAM, et al. The American Heart Association 2030 Impact Goal: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2020;141(9):e120-e138. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000758
- Gopinathannair R, Al-Khatib SM, Akoum N, et al. HRS position statement: changing the tide in CPR and AED education for students in the United States. Heart Rhythm. 2026. Published online April 23, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.04.034.
- Shah JS, Maisel WH. Recalls and safety alerts affecting automated external defibrillators. JAMA. 2006;296(6):655-660. doi:10.1001/jama.296.6.655
- Kim TY, Jung YK, Yoon SH, et al. Trends in maintenance status and usability of public automated external defibrillators during a 5-year on-site inspection. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):10738. Published 2022 Jun 24. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-14611-1
- Jespersen SS, Kjoelbye JS, Christensen HC, et al. Functionality of registered automated external defibrillators. Resuscitation. 2022;176:58-63. doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2022.05.013
- DeLuca LA Jr, Simpson A, Beskind D, et al. Analysis of automated external defibrillator device failures reported to the Food and Drug Administration. Ann Emerg Med. 2012;59(2):103-111. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2011.07.022
Written by Emily Alpin
Emily completed her undergraduate degree at Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Political Science. She worked in the biotechnology industry before starting medical school at George Washington University, where she is currently earning her M.D. with an expected graduation in 2027. She is BLS and First Aid certified and is learning to care for patients in a wide variety of settings, with a special focus on underserved populations.
Last updated June 3, 2026