A few months back, I got a panicked call from a small café owner in downtown Austin. The week prior, one of his regulars—an elderly man with a history of heart issues—collapsed behind the counter. The barista had grabbed the AED we’d supplied them, followed the device’s prompts, and it had guided her through administering a shock. The man made it to the hospital and survived, but what the barista didn’t do, and what the café owner didn’t realize they needed, was what comes right after that AED stops beingephemeral help. AED
That call made me stop. As someone who’s spent the last eight years working with AEDs—selling them, training teams, troubleshooting post-use needs—I’ve talked to way too many people who nail the frontline part (using the AED correctly) and then fumble the next, equally critical steps. Using an AED isn’t a one-and-done task. It’s a piece of a much longer, more structured process that protects both the patient, the first responder, and anyone else who might need to use that AED in the future. Whether you’re a retail manager, a gym trainer, a school administrator, or just someone who keeps an AED in their home, knowing exactly what to do after an AED has been used is non-negotiable. Let’s walk through each step, the why behind it, and the common mistakes I see all the time that put people at risk.
The first step, right after emergency services arrive and confirm the patient is being handed over to medical teams, is to secure the AED and the scene. This isn’t just a “tidy up” task. First, turn off the AED immediately. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten a call from a first responder who tried to pack up an AED only for it to start beeping loudly mid-transport, disturbing the patient who’s still responsive or agitating bystanders. Turning it off prevents that, and it also locks in all the critical data the device has recorded—every shock, every rhythm check, every prompt given. That data is gold for the paramedics who need to understand what happened in those chaotic first minutes, and for the hospital team adjusting treatment plans. While you’re at it, put the AED back in its designated, clearly marked location immediately. I once had a client who stored their used AED in a supply closet thinking they’d replace it later, only for another collapse to happen in the parking lot that same day. The bystanders had no idea where to look, and it delayed care for 7 minutes—minutes that can mean the difference between full recovery and long-term damage. Secure any other debris too: used electrode pads, discarded gloves, any other disposable items from the incident. Dispose of biohazard materials properly, per local health guidelines, so no one gets accidentally exposed to bodily fluids.
Next, document every single detail of the event, and do it right away—before the chaos fades and memories start to blur. This is where I see the biggest gaps. When a call comes in from a gym manager who used our AED, they’ll rattle off things like “we had a guy collapse, gave a shock, he went to the hospital” but forget small, vital details: what time exactly the collapse happened, how long CPR was being done before the AED was deployed, whether there were any pre-existing symptoms the patient had mentioned earlier that day, or how many shocks the AED advised to give. None of that is trivial. Hospital teams use that timeline to gauge how effective the AED’s intervention was, and it can even impact insurance or legal paperwork later. If you have a copy of the AED’s printout (most modern devices spit one out automatically when you turn them off), staple that to your notes. Even if you think you’ll remember every moment, write it down. I keep a small, pocket-sized incident log in every AED kit we sell for exactly this purpose—it takes 2 minutes, and it’s saved so many people from scrambling later.
Once the immediate scene is secure and documented, the next step is to inspect the AED and its components for damage. This is non-negotiable, even if the AED worked perfectly during the incident. Think about it: when you used the AED, it delivered high voltage—enough to restart a heart. The device’s casing can scuff if it was dropped, the electrode pads might have been stretched or improperly adhered during use, and the battery could have drained significantly depending on how long the session lasted. I had a client last year who skipped this step; a month later, a hiker on their trail used the same AED and the battery died mid-check, because the previous use had drained it and they didn’t replace it. When we inspect, start with the casing: look for cracks, dents, or signs of water damage (even if it was only drizzled during the incident, that can cause internal issues). Check the electrode pads: if they were removed from the patient, even unused ones from the same packaging should be discarded immediately—they have a shelf life, and once opened, their adhesive loses integrity. If the pads were used, obviously dispose of them, and order new ones right away. Then check the battery: most AEDs have a built-in meter, but post-use, it’s a good idea to confirm it’s at full charge. Even if the meter says “good,” I recommend testing it per the manufacturer’s guidelines to make sure the high-voltage use didn’t disrupt it.
After inspecting, you need to clean and restock the AED kit completely. This is another area where people cut corners, and it’s dangerous. The AED’s outer casing can be wiped down with a mild disinfectant, but make sure it’s dry before putting it back—moisture seeping into the device is a top cause of post-use failure. For any supplies that were used during the incident: gloves, face shields, gauze, any other disposable items, all need to be replaced. I always tell clients to keep a fully stocked spare kit for their AED; that way, if you use half your supplies, you have a backup ready to go, and you can replenish the main kit over a few days instead of scrambling the next time someone needs it. Also, don’t forget to update the AED’s status in your organization’s tracking system. Most states and workplaces have requirements for tracking AED maintenance and use, so updating that file right away means you’ll never miss a scheduled check or replacement date.
Then, you need to debrief any first responders or bystanders who were present, and use the incident to refresh your team’s training. AED use is rare, but that means skills can fade fast. When I work with corporate teams after an AED event, I always host a 30-minute debrief, not to assign blame, but to talk through what went well and what didn’t. Maybe the barista didn’t know how to turn off the AED after the paramedics arrived, so now we add that to our training modules. Maybe another staff member didn’t know where the AED was stored, so we do a quick drill to confirm everyone’s familiarity. Even if the use went perfectly, a debrief reinforces good habits. We also share anonymized incident data with local emergency medical services—they use that to update their own protocols, and it helps the whole community have a clearer, more coordinated response to cardiac events.
Wait, there’s another critical step I almost missed: notifying the patient and their family, if appropriate and with permission. This is often overlooked, but it’s an important part of ethical post-event care. Once the patient is stabilized and their family is on board, reach out briefly to confirm they’re okay, and let them know that your organization’s AED team was part of their care. It builds trust in your community, and it also gives you a chance to ask if there were any details about the event that could help improve future responses. Most patients are grateful, and it’s a small, meaningful step that many organizations skip.
After all that, you need to schedule formal maintenance for the AED. Even if it worked perfectly, AEDs are medical devices, and post-use—especially if high voltage was delivered, or the device was exposed to moisture or rough handling—needs a professional check. We offer post-use maintenance calls for all our clients; our techs will come out, run diagnostic tests on the device, confirm that all components are functioning at peak capacity, and issue a maintenance certificate that most workplaces and public spaces are required to keep on file. I can’t stress enough that skipping professional maintenance after an AED is used is like using a fire extinguisher to put out a small blaze and then just hanging it back on the wall without checking if it still works.
Now, let’s talk about common mistakes I see every day, because these are the ones that lead to avoidable risks. First, people wait too long to replace supplies. I had a school district client a few years back who used an AED during a student’s collapse, and waited two weeks to order new electrode pads. By then, the pads were expired, so their next AED use almost failed because the adhesive couldn’t stick to the patient’s chest. Second, some organizations just replace the disposable parts and ignore the device’s inner components. I once got a call from a hospital that used an AED, replaced the pads, and then three months later the device failed a routine check—turns out the battery had been damaged during the post-use shock, and no one noticed. Third, and this is a big one, people don’t update their AED’s location or access status after use. If the AED was being used, someone might have moved it temporarily, and then when another emergency happens, no one knows where it is.
For anyone reading this who has an AED—whether you’re a small business owner, a facility manager, or a community group—these steps aren’t just bureaucratic hoops. They’re what turn a life-saving device into a reliably life-saving tool, every single time. When we supply AEDs, we don’t just drop a box at a location and disappear. We include full post-use training, digital incident logs, and 24/7 support for anyone who has an emergency. The café owner I called about earlier? We helped them create a post-use checklist, stocked their kit with spare supplies, and trained their staff on the new debrief process. A few months later, another regular had a cardiac episode, and this time the barista turned off the AED immediately, documented every detail, and the paramedics had all the data they needed to deliver care. That man made a full recovery too.
If your organization is looking to ensure your AED program is robust, from initial setup to post-use care, or if you need supplies, training, or maintenance, we’re here to help. We work with businesses, schools, public spaces, and community groups to build AED programs that keep everyone safe, with support every step of the way.
Medical Hydrogel Adhesive References:
- American Heart Association. (2020). “Post-Cardiac Arrest Care Guidelines for Healthcare Providers.” Circulation, vol. 142, no. 16.
- International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR). (2021). “Consensus on Science with Treatment Recommendations for Cardiac Arrest Post-Intervention Care.” Resuscitation, vol. 167.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2019). “Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Post-Use Inspection and Maintenance Guidelines.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). (2022). “Workplace First Aid and CPR/AED Training Requirements.” U.S. Department of Labor.
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