Why Every Workplace Needs an AED

Cardiac arrest is an electrical fault — the heart stops pumping effectively and the person collapses, unresponsive and not breathing normally. It's not the same as a heart attack, which is a circulation problem and usually leaves the person conscious. Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any age, with no warning — including while they're at work.

An AED (automated external defibrillator) analyses the heart's rhythm and, where appropriate, delivers a shock to terminate a dangerous (shockable) rhythm. It does not "restart" the heart — it gives a stopped or chaotic rhythm the chance to recover a normal one, alongside CPR.

The Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Register (OHCAR) is Ireland's official record of cardiac arrests attended by ambulance crews, hosted and funded by the National Ambulance Service. Its 2024 report — the latest published — recorded 2,885 cases where resuscitation continued after crews arrived.

That 27% figure is the one that matters most for this page: it's more than three times the overall 8.0% survival rate. Close to a third of cardiac arrests happen outside the home — on the street, in public places, and in workplaces — which is exactly where having a defibrillator already on site, rather than waiting for one to arrive, makes the difference between those two numbers.

Bystander CPR was attempted in 84% of arrests not witnessed by emergency crews — a reminder that a defibrillator works alongside CPR, not instead of it.

Source: OHCAR 2024 (HSE press release, "OHCAR annual report 2024").

The Health and Safety Authority's Guidelines on First-Aid at Places of Work (December 2024 edition) set out how an AED should be provided and kept ready where one is in place.

⚡ Heated cabinet — needs a 240V supply fitted by a registered electrician. Not included. Hayes First Aid supplies and delivers the cabinet only — electrical installation is not included in the price.

The guidelines also acknowledge that an AED may not be practicable for every employer — cost of purchase, maintenance and training is a real factor for micro and small enterprises, which is why VAT (Section 06) and buying considerations (Section 07) are worth reading before you decide.

For the full legal picture — first-aider numbers, kit contents, signage, and how this applies across multiple sites — see our dedicated guide, AED Compliance in Ireland.

Buying the AED is the easy part. Keeping it ready — pads and battery in date, device registered, someone accountable for it — is the part that gets missed once the novelty wears off.

Guardian doesn't replace National Ambulance Service registration — that's a separate, free step you do directly (see our AED Compliance guide, Section 05). Guardian tracks the device's readiness; NAS registration is what lets 112/999 dispatch send a bystander to it. See AED Guardian Service for full details.

AEDs and their core consumables are zero-rated under Schedule 2, paragraph 11(3)(ba) of the VAT Consolidation Act 2010 — effective 1 January 2023. That removes a real chunk of the cost concern the HSA guidelines flag for smaller employers.

There's no single "right" AED — the right choice depends on where it will sit and who might need to use it. Things worth weighing up before you buy:

• Indoor or outdoor? An outdoor location needs a weatherproof, heated cabinet — see Section 03 for the HSA's guidance on this.
• Who's likely to use it? If it's mainly occupational first-aiders, any AED suits. If it might be used by an untrained colleague or member of the public, look for clear voice-prompt guidance and simple pad placement.
• Footfall and site size. A single small office may need one unit near the first aid point; a warehouse, retail site or campus may need more than one, positioned so no area is more than a short walk away.
• Fleet management. Multi-site organisations should think about consolidated tracking and servicing from the outset — see Section 08.

For model-by-model detail, see our AED Buying Guide or browse our full range of defibrillators.

Buying the AED is the start, not the end. Pads and batteries expire on a schedule, the device needs a periodic check, and it needs to stay registered and traceable for its working life.

• Follow the self-test and ready-indicator guidance for your specific model — see our AED Maintenance Guide.
• Replace pads and batteries before they expire — reminders are available free through AED Guardian (Section 05).
• Register the device's location with the National Ambulance Service — see our AED Compliance guide.
• Used consumables and end-of-life units are hazardous/WEEE waste — Hayes First Aid offers a take-back service.

Is an AED a legal requirement for Irish workplaces?

No. S.I. No. 299 of 2007 requires a first aid kit, a trained first-aider and signage. An AED is recommended by HSA guidance, not mandated by law — see our AED Compliance guide for the full legal picture.

How many cardiac arrests happen in Ireland each year, and what's the survival rate?

OHCAR 2024 recorded 2,885 cases where resuscitation continued after ambulance crews arrived. Of those, 232 people — 8.0% — survived to leave hospital alive.

Does having an AED on site actually improve survival chances?

The Irish data says yes. OHCAR 2024 recorded a 27% survival rate (90 of 339 patients) where a member of the public used a defibrillator before the ambulance arrived — more than three times the 8.0% overall survival rate.

What VAT applies to an AED bought for a workplace?

AED devices, pads, batteries and wall-mounted cabinets are zero-rated (0% VAT).