Defibrillator checklist template (PDF & Excel) for AED checks
Check sheet and Excel register for automated external defibrillators: device data and location, organisation, regular visual checks of status indicator, pads and battery with expiry dates, safety checks, maintenance and uses.
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An automated external defibrillator (AED) only helps if it works in an emergency. Anyone who keeps one available at work in Germany is an operator under the Medical Devices Operator Ordinance (MPBetreibV): before commissioning there is a functional test with instruction, after that safety checks at least every two years – for self-testing AEDs intended for lay users they can be dropped if the operator carries out regular visual inspections (Sections 11 and 12 MPBetreibV).
This checklist records exactly this evidence: device data and location, the organisation from the safety sign to the instruction of first aiders, regular visual checks with the expiry dates of pads and battery, and safety checks, maintenance and uses. In Excel you keep all devices in one register that flags expiring consumables in good time.
What the template contains
- Three-page PDF check sheet in landscape format with device data, appointed person and eight set-up check points
- Log for 16 visual checks with status indicator, expiry dates of pads and battery, accessories and signage
- Tables for safety checks, maintenance, uses and malfunctions
- Excel register with the details for the inventory, automatic calculation of the next safety check and a status column for expiring pads and batteries
- Excel sheets for visual checks and for uses and maintenance with drop-down lists
How to use the template
- 1
Record the device and clarify the organisation
Enter location, manufacturer, model and serial number for each AED and name the appointed person. Tick off the set-up points – from the functional test at commissioning to the instruction of first aiders.
- 2
Check regularly
Set the visual check interval as specified by the manufacturer, for example monthly, and also check after every use. Note the expiry dates of pads and battery – the Excel register shows what needs replacing soon.
- 3
Document checks, maintenance and uses
Enter safety checks, replacement of consumables, uses and malfunctions and transfer them to the medical device log. Keep safety check reports at least until the next check.
Legal basis
- Section 2 (2) and Section 11 Medical Devices Operator Ordinance (MPBetreibV): operator duties when keeping devices available, functional test and instruction before commissioning
- Section 12 MPBetreibV: safety checks at least every two years, exemption for self-testing lay-user AEDs with regular visual inspection
- Sections 13 and 14 MPBetreibV: medical device log (Medizinproduktebuch) and inventory (Bestandsverzeichnis)
- Section 4 (5) Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV), ASR A4.3: provide first aid supplies and check them regularly for completeness and usability
- DGUV Information 204-010: Automated defibrillation as part of workplace first aid
Frequently asked questions
How often does a defibrillator have to be checked?
The MPBetreibV does not set a fixed interval for visual checks; for self-testing lay-user AEDs it requires regular visual inspection. Set the interval according to the manufacturer's instructions and your risk assessment, and also check after every use. Safety checks – unless they are dropped – are due at least every two years.
Who may carry out the visual check?
A person appointed by the employer who knows the device, for example a first aider. DGUV Information 204-010 recommends appointing a suitable person to look after and check the AED. Safety checks, on the other hand, may only be carried out by persons or companies that meet the requirements of Section 5 MPBetreibV (Section 12 (4)).
Do I also need a medical device log?
Yes. For defibrillators, Section 13 MPBetreibV requires a medical device log (Medizinproduktebuch); any data medium is permitted. It contains device data, proof of functional test and instruction, checks, maintenance and malfunctions, among other things. You can transfer the entries from this checklist to it.
You may use and adapt the template freely in your own company and for your own clients. It reflects the regulations named as they stand.
Never search a spreadsheet for a deadline again
In AMS Go, what this template covers lives in one system with reminders, history and records at the push of a button – mobile and with AI support.
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