Frequently Asked Questions

The Pad-Pak™ is a single use accessory and must be replaced after use or when its expiry date has been exceeded. It may be disposed of in accordance with the instructions for the PAD unit however special consideration must be given to the battery and defibrillation electrodes contained within the device.

Battery – The Pad-Pak™ battery must be recycled separately in accordance with your national, regional and local regulations, or return to your local dealer or HeartSine for disposal.

Electrodes – When disposing of a used Pad-Pak™ the defibrillation electrodes may be contaminated with human bodily tissue, fluid or blood. Cut the electrode wires. The electrodes should be controlled and disposed of as infectious waste material. Dispose of this material in accordance with your national, regional and local regulations. If the Pad-Pak™ electrodes have not been used they may be considered non infectious waste.

If the contents has been inhaled:

Short Term Exposure: Available data indicates that ice packs are not harmful. In addition the product is unlikely to cause any discomfort or irritation.

Long Term Exposure: There is no data for negative health effects associated with long term inhalation.

If the contents has come in contact with skin:

Short Term Exposure: Available data indicates that this product is not harmful. It should present no hazards in normal use. However, the product may be mildly irritating, but is unlikely to cause anything more than mild discomfort which should disappear once contact ceases.

Long Term Exposure: There is no data for negative health effects associated with long term skin exposure.

If the contents has come in contact with eyes:

Short Term Exposure: This product may be mildly irritating to eyes, but is unlikely to cause anything more than mild discomfort which should disappear once product is removed.

Long Term Exposure: There is no data for negative health effects associated with long term eye exposure.

If the contents has been ingested:

Short Term Exposure: Significant oral exposure is considered to be unlikely. However, the ice pack contents may be irritating to mucous membranes but is unlikely to cause anything more than transient discomfort.

Long Term Exposure: There is no data for negative health effects associated with long term ingestion.

If you are expecting some rather large paddle type devices as seen in a Hollywood film or an episode of Holby City, you are wrong! They look nothing like what you see on the TV or at the cinema… The Pad-Pak is a compact cartridge which is the battery for the device and the pads combined. The Pad-Pak comes in a small wedge shaped brown box.

To install, the Pad-Pak, simply remove it from the outer packaging and clip it in to the bottom of the defibrillator. This has now been installed correctly.

A gauze swab is a commonly used product in medical scenarios and is found in most first aid kits. It is a white, sterile or non-sterile piece of material that is mainly made of cotton and is generally used with an antibacterial cream or ointment to clean and cover open wounds or cuts. Gauze swabs are usually distributed in prepackaged sterlie pouches or non-sterile packs.

Forward Hearts lets survivors of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) event, in which a HeartSine defibrillator has been used, to potentially save another life by donating a HeartSine samaritan PAD to the charity or organisation of the survivor’s choice.

HeartSine is committed to saving lives and making public access Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) more readily available. The donation of a HeartSine defibrillator through the Forward Hearts program extends this lifesaving technology to even more people, offering many a better chance of survival in the case of sudden cardiac arrest.

How the Programme Works:

When a HeartSine samaritan PAD AED is used to save a life, Physio-Control/HeartSine works to connect everyone involved – the owner of the site where the SCA occurred, the survivor, the rescuer(s) and the recipient organisation – to begin the donation program. The survivor can choose to make his/her donation to an organisation anonymously and confidentially, or as part of a public announcement. Physio-Control/HeartSine or its representative will coordinate the donation and the presentation to the organisation.

If you have a Forward Hearts story, or know of someone who survived a sudden cardiac arrest due to a HeartSine AED, please share your story with us by completing a

Forward Hearts form.

Tell Us Your Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Story:

To have an AED donated to the organisation of your choice, tell Physio-Control/HeartSine your own SCA story. Complete a Forward Hearts form, and one of their representatives will be in touch with you to get the details for donating the AED to the organisation/charity of your choice.

HeartSine defibrillators have been specifically designed for Public Access and will not let you inadvertently shock a patient. With the HeartSine defibrillator you could save the life of someone who has suffered a SCA, but if you do nothing, the most likely outcome is death. You only have minutes as the chance of survival falls 10% for every minute that passes.

AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator.

Ice Packs do not have an expiry date therefore they do not expire. The date that is listed on the packaging is the date on which that particular Ice Pack was manufactured. This is great because you can purchase Ice Packs in large quantities and have them in stock until you need to use them. See here for all of our Hot & Cold treatments.

Whilst training is always very important in the diagnosis of SCA and carrying out effective CPR, the HeartSine Samaritan defibrillators can be used without previous training. By following the simple and clear, voice and visual prompts the rescuer can deliver a lifesaving shock. Better still with the HeartSine SAM500P carry out effective CPR with real-time patient specific feedback to push harder, faster or slower. The HeartSine SAM500P provides the patient with the best chance of survival and the rescuer the reassurance they are doing everything they can.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time and without warning. There may be no previous symptoms or early warning signs, but when it happens it happens suddenly. We cannot predict when, but we can be prepared. Remember it could even be you that needs it.

Blue is the only colour that does not naturally occur in food and so the plasters stand out against all types of foodstuff because of their high visual properties. Blue plasters are used in the catering industry because they are also metal detectable. So, if a plaster falls onto the production line, it will be detected and alarm the operator to remove it. You can view our Detectable Plaster range here

This will depend on the size and complexity of your building. You must consider the defibrillator should be used within the first 3-4 minutes of the SCA taking place in order to provide the best chance of survival. Therefore, you should never want to be more than 1½- minutes’ walk away from the defibrillator. Consider when deciding on the number and location of the defibrillators whether you can walk to it in 1½ minutes. Remember staircases and multiple rooms will delay the process.

The type of kit you need depends on your risks and it is up to the employer to assess the potential dangers/hazards in the workplace and find the correct kit which is suitable to deal with any injury/accident that may take place. If you are unsure as to what type of kit you need, do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you and make a recommendation. There will soon be a data sheet available for you to download to summarise your requirements and suggest what type and size of kit you need. To view our full First Aid Kit range, click here

That is a very good question. 250 SCA’s occur every day. That is equivalent to the crew and passengers of a medium size airline. If one was to crash it would be world news. If it occurred a second day, the airline would be grounded for investigation. If it happened a third day, people would cancel flights and airports would close. But 250 SCA’s occur day after day after day. Why wait for legislation? You can help make a difference. There will be 1,000’s more deaths before legislation is introduced.

“If mains tap water is not readily available for eye irrigation, at least one litre of sterile water or sterile normal saline (0.9% w/v) in sealed, disposable containers should be provided. Once the seal has been broken, containers should not be kept for reuse. Containers should not be used beyond their expiry date” – Taken from Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Eye wash pods can also be used to reduce cost and save money, but these should be available in addition to the one litre amount. Click here to view our complete Eye Wash range.

No patient has successfully sued their rescuer for using a defibrillator. If somebody has suffered a SCA you cannot make their condition worse by using a defibrillator, but you might save their life. HeartSine protection is second to none in the industry in providing comprehensive coverage to lay rescuers as well as on the key operational components of their devices.

The main difference between the two dressings is the slightly different sizes. Ambulance dressings use sizes which dates back World War I, whereas, HSE dressings utilise a more up to date size, but there is only a minor difference. The quality of both dressings are the same too. So, HSE dressings are almost exactly the same, just a newer generation. Click this link to view our entire Adhesive Dressing range.

Have you considered the cost of not having one? What is the cost of life?

What negative publicity could you company suffer if a SCA happened and you didn’t have a defibrillator?

What would the emotional and traumatic impact be on other staff, friends, families and colleagues resulting in further absenteeism?

Who would want the unpleasant experience of reporting a death on their property, when it could have been avoided? Analyse the real cost to your company if you do not have a HeartSine defibrillator.

The A-Care plasters are an economy range, which means they are lower in cost and slightly lower in quality. However, they are as good as any and better than most.

The AeroPlast range is a premium hard wearing range featuring our SupaBond tm extra strong adhesive. SupaBond has been exclusively engineered to provide unrivalled adhesion. Coupled with specially developed fabric backings and SupaSorb tm wound pad this produces unique dressings with superior retention and longevity for the most demanding situations. Check out our whole range of Adhesive Plasters here 

Yes, emergency support will be required, but you do not have time to wait. What you do in the first 3-4minutes following a SCA will determine the patient’s outcome.

Without a defibrillator and/or effective CPR the patient’s chances of survival are very slim as brain damage can occur after just three minutes. The quicker the shock is delivered the greater the chance of re-establishing a normal heart rhythm.

Ambulance service target response times for life threatening conditions is 9 minutes, but in busy or rural locations can be significantly more. After 9 minutes the chance of survival may be as low as 10% and if nobody has been using the defibrillator or carrying out effective CPR with the help of the HeartSine SAM500P in the first 3-4 minutes the chance of survival or unimpaired recovery is very slim.

Absolutely you can. First of all, we would need to determine which type of first aid kit you require, secondly the quantity you need and then how quickly you would like the product. There are a few variables to consider before we can determine the possibilities such as, would it be a one off order or a repeating requirement? We will aid you in this selection process, simply contact our sales team to discuss your needs in more detail. You can view all our contact details here

The HeartSine SAM500P is the only public access defibrillator which will give patient specific real-time feedback during CPR on both depth and rate of compression.

Other devices offering CPR advisor require an additional puck or accelerometer on the chest and only measure the depth of compression based on a fixed measurement regardless of the patient’s physique.

The HeartSine SAM500P requires no additional pucks or accelerometers. All you need to do is carry out CPR as instructed and listen for the voice prompts to deliver effective CPR. To view our full range of defibrillators, see here

Clayton First Aid was a third generation family run business, which came available for acquisition. Clayton had always been well known to Aero Healthcare and their customer and product portfolio had a strategic fit. Aero Healthcare went on to acquire Clayton First Aid in July 2015, bringing two strong brands together as one.

Clayton’s history is quite remarkable too. It dates back to where first aid dressings originated from, around the time of the First World War. Clayton First Aid is named after its founder, Sydney George Clayton. To read the full news article on our CFA acquisition click here  or to read Clayton’s full history, see here 

It may not be as rare as you think. 100,000 people in the UK suffer a SCA every year. That is equivalent to one every 6 minutes. SCA is the biggest single killer in the Western World. The next one could be nearer than you realise. Consider what you would pay to save a life and make a wise investment.

Aero Healthcare are proud to offer samples to our customers and potential customers to display the blend of quality and value for money found in all our products. If you would like to order samples, speak to our sales team. You can submit a contact form using this link, you can email us at sales@aerohealthcare.co.uk or call us on 0845 604 8280.

The HeartSine defibrillators have been specifically designed for public access to be easy-to-use and easy-to-maintain. The ambulance service uses more sophisticated equipment for professional use for which they receive regular training. Typically, an ambulance service will suggest equipment that they are familiar with, but this may not always be the most appropriate for you.

With regards to compatibility, the trained professional should always apply their own pads on arrival when they use their professional equipment, otherwise they are relying on the previous efforts of maybe a lay rescuer to continue lifesaving treatment.

It is more important to have the right device in the first few minutes, a device which is easy to use for both defibrillation and CPR. That is the HeartSine Samaritan 500P. To view our full range of defibrillators, see here

Any product that is sterile or uses an adhesive can deteriorate over time. It can get stickier/less sticky, weaker/more fragile etc.

The sterilisation process kills off any bacteria present in the material to make it sterile. An expiry date is set utilising vigorous accelerated age testing techniques.

What happens to a product after 3 or 5 years of use? The lifecycle of a product is sped up in an experiment to test how the item will perform in the future. Will it still perform to the same standard after years of use? What will the bacteria content be after this period of time? All of these questions are answered in these experiments and an expiry date is then drawn from the conclusions and results.

An expiry date ensures the product will work at the same level as when you bought it. Always check the expiry date of first aid products before using. If you would like to know more, contact us here 

Persons who receive regular CPR training may not feel they need the CPR advisor feature of the HeartSine SAM500P. However, studies show that 70% of CPR is ineffectively performed, training skills drop off in less than 3 months, and CPR fatigue sets in after just one minute.

CPR Training is normally based on a guideline of 5-6 cm depth compression. However, this will vary greatly from patient to patient depending on their physique. The HeartSine SAM500P helps you to perform the correct depth and rate of compression specific to the patient based on real-time feedback whilst carrying out CPR. It also provides the rescuer with the reassurance they are doing everything they can. See our full range of defibrillators here 

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require the employer to provide adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment, facilities and people so their employees can be given immediate help if they are injured or taken ill at work.

What is ‘adequate and appropriate’ will depend on the circumstances in the workplace and the employer should assess what their first-aid needs are. There is no mandatory list of items to put in a first-aid box. It depends on what the employer assesses his/her needs to be.

However, the Health and Safety Executive does provide a suggested contents list, i.e. HSE First Aid Kits, 10, 20 and 50 Person etc. These contents are not mandatory and it is upon the employer to assess their risks and provide adequate first aid.

On the 30th June 2011 the British Standards Institute (BSI) published a new standard, BS8599-1:2011 Workplace First Aid Kits and thus the first British Standard specifying the contents of workplace first aid kits was inaugurated.

This is a welcome move for both the first aid industry and business owners as it clearly establishes a standard for workplace first aid provision and the contents of the new kits are far more appropriately aligned with today’s workplace risks and first aid needs.

Yes. The optional paediatric Pad-Pak can be switched over in just 3 seconds for children less than 8 years or 25kg. Electrodes are pre-connected to save time and operator confusion. Paediatric mode will automatically adjust the shock energy level to suit the paediatric patient.

Resuscitation guidelines do however suggest that adult pads can be used in an emergency. Thankfully the number of SCA patients who are in the paediatric category is predicted to be less than 5%. Compare this with 95% of SCA patient who require effective CPR with the support of the HeartSine SAM500P. To view our full range of defibrillators, see here

PAD stands for Public Access Defibrillator.