A defibrillator 1 is provided comprising an activation mechanism 3 having an activator 5 and a status indicator 7 wherein the activator 5 is disposable in a first condition in which the defibrillator is deactivated and in a second condition in which the defibrillator is activated and the status indicator is operable in at least a first mode in which a 'defibrillator ready' status of the defibrillator is indicated and a second mode in which a 'defibrillator not ready' status of the defibrillator is indicated. The status indicator may comprise one or more lights 13 providing an illumination pattern. The activator may be movable and be any of a button 9, hook, dial, slider, handle, knob, key or switch. The activator may comprise a sign 11 and one or more lights. The lights may illuminate the sign and may flash in a pattern for a pre-determined period of time to illuminate the sign.
