AED Plus Notification

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Written by D. G Henstridge MD CCFP (EM), President & Medical Director

Thursday, 26 March 2009 14:47

Feb 18, 2009

Dear ZOLL AED Plus® Customer:

Please read this urgent correspondence including all appended documents.

This is currently a proactive and voluntary notification issued by ZOLL even though no official recall has yet been issued to date by the FDA or Health Canada.

ZOLL’s commitment to quality assurance has lead to the discovery of a rare occurrence in a few ZOLL AED Plus® which had the recommended Duracell lithium batteries installed four or more years earlier. Despite a green check on the status indicator, the concern could potentially present itself during a rescue by directing you to change the batteries, without allowing you to first deliver a recommended shock. Should this extremely unusual event occur before you implement one of the solutions proposed below, you can resolve it quickly by powering the AED off and after 10 seconds turn it back ON. The AED will then reanalyze and any shock advised can be delivered.

Even though this issue is extremely infrequent, it could potentially affect a rescue attempt. Consequently, we are recommending you resolve this issue permanently by implementing the free software upgrade solution which is one of the corrective solutions presented by the manufacturer. Download the free software from www.zoll.com/batteryhelp/downloadreminder.asp and utilize the IRDA adapter/port on your computer to upload it to your AED. (If your computer is not equipped with an IRDA port, contact us to arrange a loaner or purchase of this hardware, etc.). This solution will completely resolve the issue and allow you to totally depend on the status indicator, and also restore the AED battery replacement interval to the expected 5 years.

ZOLL’s alternative solution is to replace your batteries every 3 years in the future. (See the steps advised by ZOLL at the above link as well and the special cost savings for more frequent battery replacement cost if you elect to utilize this solution).

As explained in the documents available below, there is no concern about your AED failing if your batteries have been replaced in the last 3 years or if you upgrade your software now.

HeartZAP Services Inc. sincerely apologizes for any concerns or inconvenience this matter may cause. We request you either make arrangements to do the software upgrade ASAP or implement a policy of battery replacement every 3 years to avoid any potential clinical risk. *(In consideration of the inconvenience this may cause, please see the posted coupon).

In addition, please communicate your choice of solution as identified on the form at http://www.heartzap.ca/AEDPlus_upgrade2009responseform and complete it online or download it, complete and return it by mail or fax at 1-866-253-3915.

If you need additional assistance with the software upgrade or have additional questions not covered in the other documents posted here, please call Sherry at 1-866-764-8488, extension 10 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sincerely,