Why AED Management Should Be Part of Your Purchase
When you're buying an AED in Canada, it is natural to focus on the device: Which brand should I choose? How much does it cost? Does it provide CPR feedback? Do I need pediatric pads? Where should I install it?
There is another question that may be even more important several years from now:
Who is going to help make sure my AED is still ready when I need it?
An AED purchase should be the beginning of an ongoing readiness program—not the end of the transaction. TrackMyAED helps owners monitor AED information, inspections, pad and battery replacement dates and other important details. Today, more than 70,000 AEDs are managed annually through TrackMyAED, with 97.9% currently rescue-ready.
And our team is actively working with customers responsible for the remaining 2.1% to help resolve outstanding readiness issues.
That is what AED ownership should look like.
What Happens After You Buy an AED?
An automated external defibrillator can spend most of its life waiting.
You may buy one for:
- Your home
- Cottage
- Small business
- Dental or medical office
- Gym
- Restaurant
- Church
- Community organization
- Sports facility
- School
- Workplace
- Construction site
You install the AED in an accessible location, tell people where it is and hope it never has to be used.
But while the AED is waiting, time continues to move.
Electrode pads have expiry dates.
Batteries have maintenance or replacement requirements.
Employees change.
The AED may be moved.
Someone may forget an inspection.
Accessories may be removed from a cabinet.
Years can pass much faster than expected.
That is why a good AED supplier should help you think about what happens after checkout.
At AEDShop, TrackMyAED is part of that approach.
Does an AED Need Maintenance If It Has Never Been Used?
Yes. An AED still requires regular attention even if it has never been used in a cardiac arrest.
Most modern AEDs perform automated self-tests, but that does not mean an owner should install the device and forget about it.
Health Canada recommends that AEDs be checked regularly and that owners follow the maintenance and testing schedule in their device manual. This includes paying attention to the AED's status, pads, accessories, batteries and service alerts.
If the AED identifies a service issue, it should be addressed.
Think about an AED like a smoke alarm.
You don't wait for a fire to find out whether the battery works.
With an AED, you want to identify maintenance needs before an emergency occurs.
Why Do AED Pads Expire?
AED electrode pads contain an adhesive and conductive material that allows the electrodes to make proper contact with a person's chest.
They do not last indefinitely.
Manufacturers establish expiry dates for their electrode pads, and the dates vary depending on the AED and pad type.
This creates one of the most common long-term responsibilities associated with AED ownership.
When you buy an AED today, it can be easy to think:
"I'll remember to replace the pads in a few years."
Will you?
Will the employee who purchased the AED still work there?
Will the same manager be responsible?
Will someone know which replacement pads fit the AED?
TrackMyAED helps remove some of that uncertainty by maintaining equipment information and providing expiry notifications.
What About the AED Battery?
AED batteries also require monitoring.
Different AED manufacturers use different battery systems, and expected replacement intervals can vary.
Some AEDs use a dedicated long-life battery. Others may use different configurations or maintenance schedules.
The important point is simple:
Do not assume every AED battery works the same way.
Owners should follow the manufacturer's instructions for their specific device.
TrackMyAED helps centralize the information associated with the AED so that important replacement needs are easier to manage.
When replacement pads or batteries are required, AEDShop also provides direct access to replacement accessories for major Health Canada-approved AED brands.
What Is TrackMyAED?
TrackMyAED is an AED management program designed to help owners keep track of the information required to maintain their lifesaving equipment.
Rather than leaving important dates on a sticker, calendar or spreadsheet, TrackMyAED provides a centralized place to manage your AED program.
Depending on the TrackMyAED service level, features can include:
- Automatic accessory expiry notifications
- Monthly AED inspection reminders
- AED manufacturer and model information
- Serial-number tracking
- AED location information
- Downloadable inspection reports
- Digital inspection capabilities
- Centralized AED dashboards
- Location mapping
- AED resources and educational materials
- Bilingual English/French support
- Staff training information
- Expert AED support
For many AEDShop customers, this means the AED isn't forgotten after it arrives.
There is a management system behind it.
Why Does AEDShop Include AED Management?
Because selling you an AED is easy.
Helping you keep that AED ready for years is more important.
AEDShop is the online retail division of BERRN Consulting Ltd., the same Canadian company behind AED4Life.
Our involvement with AEDs extends far beyond adding a product to a shopping cart.
The team behind AEDShop works with AED equipment every day—from AEDs and cabinets to pads, batteries, signage and management programs.
That means TrackMyAED is not simply a generic asset-management application.
It is built around AED ownership.
That distinction matters.
More Than 70,000 AEDs Managed Annually
One question every AED owner should ask a management provider is:
How much experience do you actually have managing AEDs?
TrackMyAED manages more than 70,000 AEDs annually.
That includes AEDs from different manufacturers, different generations of equipment and different environments.
That scale matters because AED management becomes more valuable as real-world experience grows.
Our team has seen the issues AED owners encounter:
- Pads approaching expiry
- Battery replacement requirements
- Missing information
- Incorrect contact details
- AEDs being relocated
- Inspections not being completed
- Older AEDs approaching replacement
- Equipment requiring attention
TrackMyAED helps bring those issues into one management process.
What Does 97.9% Rescue-Ready Mean?
Our current data indicates that 97.9% of the AEDs managed through TrackMyAED are rescue-ready.
We are proud of that result.
But we pay close attention to the remaining 2.1%.
Why?
Because AED management isn't about generating an impressive dashboard.
It is about identifying devices requiring attention and helping owners address those issues.
When a device is identified as requiring action, our goal is to work with the customer toward getting it back to rescue-ready status.
That ongoing follow-through is a critical part of professional AED management.
Finding the problem is step one. Helping solve it is what matters.
Aren't All AED Management Programs Basically the Same?
No.
Many companies can provide a database.
Some can send automated emails.
Technology is useful—but technology alone doesn't create expertise.
Before trusting your AED to a management provider, ask:
- How many AEDs do you currently manage?
- What percentage are rescue-ready?
- What happens when an AED isn't ready?
- Do you support multiple AED brands?
- Can you help me identify the correct replacement supplies?
- Can I speak with someone who understands AEDs?
- Is the program designed specifically for AED management?
- Can the program grow if I buy more AEDs?
Those questions reveal much more than a list of software features.
What If I Only Own One AED?
You still need to manage it.
In fact, a person with one AED can be particularly vulnerable to forgetting an expiry date because managing AED equipment isn't part of their daily job.
You might own an AED at:
- Home
- A cottage
- A small business
- A farm
- A private clinic
- A community hall
Three years after purchasing it, will you remember when the pads need replacing?
TrackMyAED can help keep that information organized for you.
You do not need a national AED fleet to benefit from proper AED management.
One AED may be the only AED available when someone needs help.
What If I Own Several Different AED Brands?
That is another reason centralized management can be helpful.
Organizations sometimes build AED fleets over many years.
They may own:
- Older devices
- Newer devices
- Multiple brands
- Different pad types
- Different battery systems
TrackMyAED supports Health Canada-approved AED brands, allowing different AEDs to be managed through one program.
Instead of maintaining separate calendars and spreadsheets for every device, AED information can be centralized.
Why AED Readiness Matters During Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Sudden cardiac arrest happens without warning.
During cardiac arrest, immediate recognition, CPR and rapid access to an AED are critical parts of the response.
Health Canada emphasizes the importance of early CPR and defibrillation and also stresses that AEDs should be checked regularly.
The reason is straightforward.
When someone retrieves an AED during a cardiac arrest, that is not the time to discover:
- A service warning
- Missing supplies
- A maintenance issue
- Pads that should have been replaced
- An AED that has been moved
The work required to keep an AED ready occurs before the emergency.
Your AED Shouldn't Become a Forgotten Purchase
Online shopping has made purchasing an AED easier than ever.
That's a good thing.
But an AED is very different from most products you buy online.
It is a medical device designed for use during a life-threatening emergency.
So the relationship shouldn't end when the shipping box arrives.
At AEDShop, we want customers to have access to the AED, replacement supplies, resources and management support they need throughout the life of their device.
That is why TrackMyAED is an important part of the AEDShop experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TrackMyAED?
TrackMyAED is an AED management program that helps owners monitor their AED information, locations, inspections, replacement supplies and other important program details.
How many AEDs does TrackMyAED manage?
TrackMyAED currently manages more than 70,000 AEDs annually.
What percentage of TrackMyAED-managed devices are rescue-ready?
As of August 22, 2026, 97.9% of AEDs managed through TrackMyAED are currently rescue-ready. The team is actively working with customers to help address readiness issues affecting the remaining 2.1%.
Is TrackMyAED only for businesses?
No. TrackMyAED can help manage AEDs in businesses, organizations, public locations, cottages and homes.
Can I register an AED I already own?
AEDShop currently allows existing AED owners to register devices with TrackMyAED. Contact the AEDShop team for current program options and eligibility.
Does TrackMyAED replace physical AED inspections?
No. AED owners must continue to follow the manufacturer's instructions for inspection, maintenance, testing and storage. TrackMyAED helps support and document the management process.
Buy the AED. Then Protect Your Investment.
The day you purchase an AED, everything should be ready.
The real test comes years later.
Is it still ready?
At AEDShop, our goal is to make buying and owning an AED easier.
That means competitive online shopping, access to leading Health Canada-approved AED brands, replacement pads and batteries, expert assistance—and TrackMyAED management support after your purchase.
70,000+ AEDs managed annually.
97.9% currently rescue-ready.
Active work with customers to address the remaining 2.1%.
Because when you purchase lifesaving equipment, the service behind it matters too.
Ready to Get Started?
Shop AEDs: Browse AEDShop's selection of Health Canada-approved automated external defibrillators.
Learn About TrackMyAED: Explore TrackMyAED Plus and TrackMyAED Pro options.
Need replacement supplies? Shop AED pads, batteries and accessories for leading AED manufacturers.
Already have an AED? Contact AEDShop to ask about registering your device with TrackMyAED.