A third of cardiac defibrillators installed in public places are out of service and 60% present “an anomaly”

Près de 60 % d’entre eux présentent “une anomalie pouvant entraîner un dysfonctionnement”. MAXPPP – Richard Villalon

Près d’un tiers des défibrillateurs installés dans les lieux publics de l’Hexagone ne fonctionnent pas, selon un audit réalise par une société de maintenance.

As revealed France Info this Wednesday, May 29, 2024, a third of the 500 000 Cardiac defibrillators installed in France do not work. A finding established according to the audit carried out by the company Matecir Defibril, consulted by our colleagues.

The company inspected nearly 6,021 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) between 2021 and 2023. A third of them are out of service, according to projections.

Batteries and electrodes are not changed

Moreover, nearly 60% of them present "an anomaly that could lead to a malfunction&quot ;, indicates Arlod, an association for the census and location of defibrillators which is calling for a law to oblige operators to ensure the proper functioning of defibrillators. As with fire extinguishers.

How to explain it? If all public establishments are obliged to be equipped with them, they do not know how to ensure they are ;good operation. The batteries and electrodes of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) must be changed regularly, explains France Info.

Between 40 000 and 50 000 deaths by sudden death each year

Before the implantation of defibrillators on French soil in 2007 to fight against sudden death in France, the survival rate for cardiac arrests was 2% , according to the president of the association for the census and location of defibrillators, Bruno Thomas-Lamotte.

After the AEDs the rate remained very low in France, it is of the order of 7 or 8%, according to the president of the association who insists: "So that clearly proves that there is an interest" .

Every year between 40,000 and 50,000 people suffer sudden death, according to the Ministry of Labor, Health and Solidarity.