[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we recently explored on our blog, there are many places you can keep a defibrillator. But in our opinion, one idea is by far and away the best: a purpose-build defib cabinet.

In this post, we’ll explore five reasons you need a defib cabinet in your workplace, leisure area, travel hub or neighbourhood in order to make your defibrillator easily accessible to anyone that needs it.

Does an AED need to be in a cabinet?

While an automated external defibrillator (AED) can in theory be kept almost anywhere, in practice it’s rather hard to find somewhere that meets all the requirements of a consistent temperature, security and of course accessibility. This is why we at WEL Medical firmly believe AED cabinets should be as widespread as other everyday safety measures like fire extinguishers and emergency help points.

Five reasons why you should consider getting a defib cabinet

At WEL Medical we design and distribute the most advanced defibrillator cabinet on the market – the DefibSafe 2. This cleverly-engineered box carries some distinct benefits over keeping your defib in your car, in your home, or locked in a cupboard in the office.

Those benefits include:

1. Find an AED in a hurry (which is always when you need one!)

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A DefibSafe cabinet with a green doorImagine you’re in your workplace and someone collapses in front of you with no visible signs of life. If your company’s policy is to store your AED in a closet on the fifth floor, are you even going to have seen it to know it’s there? That’s never an issue with a DefibSafe cabinet. The bright yellow and green colour scheme is instantly memorable and we suggest they’re placed in public concourses, meaning everyone in your building will instantly know where to look for it. That’s why it’s top of our five reasons you need a defib cabinet in your office.

But let’s say the emergency happens away from a workplace. What would you do then? Well, if you call 999 in most areas of the country, they’ll be able to point you towards your nearest registered defibrillator. If it’s in a code-locked DefibSafe case, you’ll simply be able to give the emergency services operator the unlock code in order to access the AED within.

2. Protect your AED from vandalism

Defibrillator cases are typically made from highly durable materials that’s resistant to both impact and corrosion. In the case of the DefibSafe 2, for instance, the door is made from the same material as riot shields! So if anyone has the bright idea to steal the AED inside, they certainly won’t be able to force the cabinet open quietly.

3. Keep your defibrillator safe from rain, sleet and snow

The third of our five reasons why you should consider getting a defib cabinet is that they’re specifically designed to keep your AED dry – even if it’s stored outside, and in particularly wet parts of the country. In particular, the DefibSafe 2 cabinet carries an IP66 certification. That means it’s protected from water directly falling on it, or spraying on it from a hose, for example. That’s easily enough to place your defibrillator out in the elements where it’s accessible, knowing that water won’t leak in and damage the unit.

4. Store your defib at the perfect temperature

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_single_image image=”2706″][vc_column_text]Image credit: Premier League[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]Much like the way it protects your AED from moisture, a DefibSafe cabinet is also designed to keep it at the ideal temperature. That’s important, because as we mentioned in our blog ‘The Many Places You Can Keep A Defibrillator,’ a defibrillator runs on a lithium battery, which can easily malfunction if it’s allowed to get either too hot or too cold. Likewise, the gel pads are also full of a liquid solution that can freeze up in cold weather, making them unusable without thawing – not what you want when you’re in a life or death situation and need the defibrillator immediately. DefibSafe cabinets are thermostatically controlled and heated by a small heat plate which has a thermal cut-out mechanism that keeps the cabinet’s internal temperature above five degrees centigrade at all times. In that way, you’ll always know your defib is usable regardless of the weather – which makes it easily one of the biggest five reasons why you should consider getting a defib cabinet.

5. Feel reassured about your cabinet’s durability

The last of our five reasons you need a defib cabinet is simply that they tend to come with long-time warranties – so should you encounter any problems, you can always replace them quickly and at no expense. Our WEL Medical designed DefibSafe 2 case for instance comes with a 10-year guarantee on the outer casing, meaning you needn’t worry if it does encounter damage from someone trying to force the unit open.

Do you need a defib cabinet for your AED?

Taken alone, each of the five reasons you need a defib cabinet that we’ve outlined here creates a compelling case for getting one. Taken together, we believe it’s practically a no-brainer. So if you’re wondering how and where you can get a DefibSafe case to protect your AED, head to our shop, or alternatively get in touch with us to talk through your needs in more detail.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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