1. Defibrillator Design and Usability May Be Impeding Timely Defibrillation 
Marc Reeson, MD, Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, MD, MHA, Gianni D'Egidio, MD, MEng 
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety 
Volume 44, Issue 9, Pages (September 2018)
DOI: /j.jcjq
Copyright © 2018 The Authors Terms and Conditions

2. Figure 1
Panel A of the figure shows the Laerdal full-size ALS [Advanced Life Support] Simulator, and the SimPad remote is shown in panel B. Images reproduced with permission. Source: Laerdal. ALS Simulator (Discontinued) Accessed Jun. 22,
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety  , DOI: ( /j.jcjq )
Copyright © 2018 The Authors Terms and Conditions

3. Figure 2
The Philips HeartStart XL manual-mode defibrillator is shown. Image reproduced with permission. Source: Southwest Medical. Philips HeartStart XL Defibrillator – Refurbished Accessed Jun 22,
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety  , DOI: ( /j.jcjq )
Copyright © 2018 The Authors Terms and Conditions

4. Figure 3
Hands-free defibrillator electrode pads are shown in panel A, while panel B shows the simulation hands-free defibrillator electrode pads connected to an adaptor cable, which is subsequently attached to the defibrillator. The requirement for an adaptor cable is not intuitive nor clearly labeled on the defibrillator or hands-free defibrillator electrode pads.
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety  , DOI: ( /j.jcjq )
Copyright © 2018 The Authors Terms and Conditions

5. Figure 4
The hands-free defibrillator electrode pads in panel A are labeled as “Multi-Function Defibrillation Electrodes,” and the handheld defibrillator pads in panel B are labeled as “Defib-Pads.” This somewhat ambiguous packaging is confusing for users and is likely the result of sourcing components from multiple different suppliers. Panel 4B reproduced with permission. Source: 3M. 3M™ Defibrillator Pads, 2346N, 4-1/2 in × 6 in (11.4 cm × 11.4 cm) Accessed Jun 22,
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety  , DOI: ( /j.jcjq )
Copyright © 2018 The Authors Terms and Conditions

6. Figure 5
The cable locking mechanism (yellow circle) for hands-free defibrillator electrode pad attachment is relatively simple to operate but is located immediately adjacent to the surface on which the defibrillator sits and is thus somewhat difficult to access.
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety  , DOI: ( /j.jcjq )
Copyright © 2018 The Authors Terms and Conditions

7. Figure 6
Plastic notches (yellow circles) designed to prevent inadvertent removal of the handheld defibrillator paddles seem to make deliberate removal more difficult, as they necessitate an equal force to be directed upward and outward simultaneously, similar to the design of child-resistant packaging.
Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety  , DOI: ( /j.jcjq )
Copyright © 2018 The Authors Terms and Conditions