Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Every automated external defibrillator we sell is FDA-cleared and purchased directly through authorized supply channels. AED Professionals (a General Medical Devices, Inc. company) is an authorized distributor for the leading, compliance-vetted manufacturers — Philips HeartStart, ZOLL, HeartSine, Defibtech, Cardiac Science, and Stryker / Physio-Control (LIFEPAK).

Because we buy from the manufacturers themselves, your device, warranty, and consumables are all genuine — not gray-market units that can void coverage or fail a compliance audit.

We carry the six major AED brands trusted in U.S. workplaces, schools, and public spaces: Philips HeartStart, ZOLL, HeartSine, Defibtech, Cardiac Science, and Stryker / Physio-Control (LIFEPAK).

Each brand has strengths for different settings — from ultra-simple consumer-friendly units to rugged professional models with CPR feedback. If you are not sure which is right for your environment, call us at 888-541-2337 and we will match a device to your facility, budget, and staff training level.

Most AEDs in the United States require a physician’s prescription, and we handle that for you. As part of your purchase, AED Professionals arranges the required medical oversight so your order ships fully compliant — there is no extra paperwork or doctor visit on your end.

This is standard for our industry and is one reason buying from an authorized distributor matters: you get a legitimate device and the prescription documentation that compliance programs and inspectors expect.

For most organizations we recommend a new AED, because it ships with a full manufacturer warranty and fresh-dated pads and battery. A new unit gives you the longest runway before your first consumable replacement and the cleanest compliance record.

Refurbished units can make sense for tight budgets or backup devices. If you are weighing the two, call us — we will walk through warranty length, battery dates, and total cost of ownership so the decision is based on real numbers, not just sticker price.

A new AED ships ready to deploy: the defibrillator, an installed battery, and at least one set of electrode pads. Many models also include a starter rescue kit and a carry case.

For a fully rescue-ready setup, most facilities add a wall cabinet, AED signage, a prep kit (razor, scissors, gloves, barrier mask), and a spare set of pads. Ask about our complete-program bundles, which package these together at a better price than buying them separately.

Yes — we ship FDA-cleared AEDs, pads, batteries, and emergency supplies across the United States, and shipping is free on orders over $99 to the continental U.S.

Orders under $99 and shipments to Alaska and Hawaii are calculated at checkout. Certain oversized or specialty items (such as freight-shipped cabinets) may carry their own rate, which is shown before you pay.

Yes. We offer a price-match guarantee on the products we sell. If you find a lower advertised price from another authorized seller, contact us with the details and we will work to match it.

Matching prices only on genuine, authorized-channel product protects you from gray-market devices that can void warranties — so you get the better price and the legitimate equipment.

AED Professionals is headquartered at 348 W. Colfax Street, Palatine, Illinois 60067, in the Chicago metro area. We serve local Illinois and Chicagoland customers directly and operate as a national supplier shipping nationwide.

Reach us at 888-541-2337 (toll-free) or 847-202-3233 (local). We are a real, staffed business — not a drop-ship storefront.

AED Professionals has specialized in defibrillators and emergency preparedness equipment since 2003. We are a family-owned business operating as a division of General Medical Devices, Inc., and we hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Two decades of focus on one mission — sudden cardiac arrest readiness — means we know these devices, the compliance rules, and the consumables better than a general-line retailer ever could.

Yes. We support schools, municipalities, healthcare, non-profits, and businesses placing multi-unit or program-wide orders with volume pricing and quotes.

If you are equipping multiple buildings, standardizing a fleet of devices, or working against a purchase-order and budget cycle, call 888-541-2337 and we will prepare a quote and help with the paperwork your purchasing team needs.

AED pads and batteries typically need replacement every 2 to 5 years, depending on the brand and model. Electrode pads carry a printed expiration date, and batteries have a manufacturer-rated service life that varies by unit.

Pads and batteries also need immediate replacement after any rescue use. The safest habit: check the expiration dates on your pads and confirm your AED’s status indicator is green during your monthly readiness check.

The consumables you need are determined by your AED’s exact brand and model — for example, a ZOLL AED Plus uses different pads than a Philips HeartStart OnSite.

Find your model name on the front or back label of the device, then shop by brand on our site or use our Find My Pads & Batteries tool. If you are unsure, call 888-541-2337 with the model number and we will confirm the correct part the first time.

The status indicator is a small light or window on the AED that confirms the device has passed its automatic self-test and is ready to rescue. A green or "ready" indicator means good; a flashing, red, or audible alert means the unit needs attention — usually a battery or pad replacement.

Most AEDs self-test daily or weekly on their own, but a quick human eyes-on check each month is the standard best practice to catch a problem before an emergency does.

Yes. Beyond selling equipment, we help organizations keep their AED programs rescue-ready and compliant through maintenance support and consumable tracking.

For facilities managing several devices, staying ahead of pad and battery expirations is the single most common point of failure. Talk to us about how to keep every unit in your fleet current so you are never caught with an expired device.

AED requirements depend on your state and your type of facility — there is no single national mandate, but many states require AEDs in places like schools, health clubs, dental offices, and certain public buildings.

Requirements also extend to how an AED is maintained, registered, and paired with a trained responder. Because the rules change by state and setting, check your state’s law and your industry’s regulations, or contact us and we will point you to the relevant requirements for your location.

This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current obligations with your state or a qualified advisor.

Good Samaritan laws in all 50 states are designed to protect people who use an AED in good faith to help during a cardiac emergency. These protections exist specifically to encourage bystanders to act, because in sudden cardiac arrest, doing nothing is the greatest risk.

AEDs are built so untrained bystanders can use them safely: the device analyzes the heart rhythm and will only allow a shock if one is needed. Coverage details vary by state, so review your local law for specifics.

This is general information, not legal advice.

Yes. Many AEDs support pediatric use through dedicated pediatric pads or a child mode that lowers the energy delivered. If a child is in cardiac arrest and only adult pads are available, current guidance is that using the AED is better than not using it.

If your AED may be used where children are present — a school, daycare, gym, or family setting — we recommend keeping pediatric pads on hand. Ask us which pediatric option fits your specific model.

No formal training is required to operate an AED — every unit guides you with clear voice and visual prompts from the moment it is turned on. The device tells you where to place the pads, when to stand clear, and when to deliver a shock.

That said, CPR and AED training builds the confidence to act fast under pressure, which saves lives. We strongly recommend training for anyone responsible for safety in your facility, and we can help you arrange it.

Yes. We support safety readiness with CPR and AED training resources and equipment so your team knows how to respond, not just where the device is.

Pairing a trained responder with a maintained AED is the combination that actually improves survival. Contact us to discuss training options and CPR practice equipment for your organization.

Every minute without defibrillation drops the chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest by roughly 7 to 10 percent. Survival is highest when CPR is started immediately and an AED is used within the first few minutes — well before EMS typically arrives.

This is why placement matters: an AED is only effective if someone can reach it, retrieve it, and apply it quickly. We help facilities decide how many devices they need and where to mount them for fast access.

Alongside AEDs and their consumables, we carry a full range of emergency preparedness supplies: bleeding-control and trauma kits, naloxone (Narcan) for opioid emergencies, AED cabinets and signage, first aid supplies, and CPR training equipment.

The goal is to be a single trusted source for your facility’s emergency readiness — so cardiac, trauma, and overdose response can all be sourced and maintained in one place.

Yes. We carry naloxone (Narcan) nasal spray for opioid-overdose emergency response. Many of the same facilities that maintain an AED — schools, workplaces, and public venues — now keep naloxone on hand as part of a complete emergency plan.

If you are building or expanding an overdose-response program, contact us for product details and quantity options.

Because emergency readiness is the only thing we do. Since 2003 we have been an authorized, A+ BBB-rated distributor focused exclusively on AEDs and emergency supplies — with the brand knowledge, prescription handling, price-match guarantee, and program support that a general-line store cannot offer.

You get genuine equipment, real people who know these devices, and a partner who helps keep your program compliant long after the sale. Saving lives is our only business.