Non-Rechargeable Batteries
Lifespan: Non-rechargeable lithium batteries generally have a useful life of four to five years in standby mode. “Standby mode” is when the AED is ready for use and the only drain on the battery is from the AED performing its daily, weekly, or monthly self-tests.
Maintenance: These batteries are also low maintenance (or no maintenance) when compared to rechargeable AED batteries. You place the battery in the AED and it’s ready for service for the next several years.
Cost: AED batteries range from $149 to $398, depending on the model and manufacturer.
Rechargeable Batteries
Lifespan: Replacement every two years is not uncommon. Most AEDs will alert you when the battery needs to be replaced.
Charging time: Charging time for the various models can be anywhere from two hours to 10 hours (depending on which AED you have), and while the battery is charging it is not in the AED. Unless you have multiple batteries, this means your AED is not in service.
Charging frequency: Rechargeable AED batteries need to be recharged often, at least monthly in most cases. Rechargeable batteries need to be changed every two or three years or after a finite number of charging cycles.
Cost: The cost of the battery by itself is nearly identical to a comparable non-rechargeable battery, but when you’re using a rechargeable battery, you don’t need just the battery. To operate safely, you need:
_______________________________________________I have long wished that Old North owned an automatic external defibrillator (AED), part of my plan to be sure that nobody ever dies in the ON ringing room (where plan in this case means a combination of wishes and actual simplistic plans). The policy there is that calling 911 will bring someone with suitable equipment to help. I hope that it is still true that all BPD cars have an AED, not just ambulances. Ed & Bryn and I talked about this recently, when we were chatting about money. I think the church should spring for it, but could/should we donate one if not? Would we have a training session? Most CPR courses nowadays include AED training, but maybe we could get Adin to do a short one without going through a formal class? The automatic part of the name is supposed to indicate that an untrained person could use it, but training is supposed to make one better at it. At service ringing on Sunday, Danielle brought up some good questions, like how is it powered - battery, but are they constantly plugged in to recharge, or would we be responsible for proactively changing batteries regularly?
Sunday was a pleasant day for a walk, and I had hours free between lunch and being back at ON for the lantern service ringing, so I spent some time walking the Freedom Trail, trying to learn about the AED status of historical sites. I skipped the outdoor sites, presuming no place to hang one. I was put off by the scaffolding all over Faneuil Hall, unsure whether it is open during construction.
Old State House: their policy is like Old North's - no AED, call 911. Their first aid box has bandaids, more or less.
Old South Meeting House (not to be confused with Old South Church): They have an AED, but not everyone has been trained. The untrained staff people have been told not to try to use it.
Chipotle (used to be the Old Corner Bookstore, and is still on the official FT guide): None in plain sight, although it might be in the kitchen. They were quite busy and I didn't want to hold up sandwich production, so I didn't wait in line to inquire.
King's Chapel: Have one. Only some staff people have been trained. More might be trained the next time they have a CPR course.
Park Street Church (on the official Trail. Regards itself as a church only, not a historic site, despite all the historic events in its past):
Yes - if one goes in the side/official door, there is a desk on the right with a staff person. The AED is clearly labelled with the kind of sign one sometimes sees in public buildings. Of the two people at or near the desk, one has been trained, the other not.
State House: not open to tourists on weekends. I have been there as a tourist and to talk to representatives, but I don't remember about AEDs.
USS Constitution and (privately owned) Constitution Museum: I asked former educator Bernard, who was at ON as a greeter for the Lantern Service, because he works at the museum. He said that the NPS rangers at the Charlestown Navy yard all have AEDs in their cars, so there is no AED at the museum. I didn't go to Bunker Hill, but since they are part of the NPS, maybe they also rely on the rangers. I hate the thought of someone bringing on a heart attack climbing all those steps.
Laura Dickerson
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