Do all AED models have the same boot-up speed to shock-ready?
Study after study concludes that in a cardiac emergency, the faster a shock is administered to a victim, the better the victim’s chances of survival. In 2005, the American Heart Association criticized AED manufacturers for not having fast enough boot-up speeds. Some AED units had boot-up speed as slow as 30 seconds. That is to say, from the time the activation button on the AED unit was pressed, it took up to 30 seconds before the AED was ready to administer a shock to the victim. In 2006, AED manufactures responded by reducing boot-up speed by approximately 50%. Today, every AED unit has a unique boot-up speed. When purchasing an AED, you should consider the boot-up speeds, which will in part determine how quickly a rescuer can administer a life saving shock from the AED.
