The ability to transport defibrillators adds a level of comfort to heart disease patients and medical professionals. Automatic defibrillators prevent accidental shocks and provide easy text instructions for the general public.
Thermal runaway is a hazardous potential for lithium batteries, which power most defibrillators. If heat has no way of escaping a battery, overheating can become unstoppable and eventually lead to an explosion. The Federal Aviation Administration prevents large quantities of batteries being transported on aircraft. When permitted, defibrillators should be powered off to prevent fire hazards on the airplane, train or car.
Since January 2008, the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration have allowed lithium batteries and electronics using these batteries to be carried in the cabin but not in checked baggage. Cabin crew members will be able to handle fires within the cabin, compared to inaccessible fires in cargo compartments while in flight.
