AED Legislation

Public Access Defibrillation AED Legislation Update

Oregon Expands Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Legislation

February 2010 - The State of Oregon just released Senate Bill 1006 in February that revises Senate Bill 556.

Oregon Legislation Requires AEDs in Larger Businesses

December 2009: Starting January 1, 2010, Oregon Senate Bill 556 mandates the purchase of the defibrillators by “any place of public assembly with a facility of 50,000 square feet or more and with at least 25 individuals present on a normal business day."  

Dental AED Legislation Update

May 2009: The Illinois Legislature recently passed HB921 and upon review, the Governor signed this bill into law. HB921 requires the placement of an AED in most dental practices along with the adoption of emergency response plans and the training of staff on the use of an AED and CPR.

Stanley F. Malamed, DDS, Professor of Anesthesia and Medicine at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry, has said, "An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is considered an absolutely essential part of emergency preparedness as early defibrillation is THE most important intervention in successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest."¹

Nursing Home AED Legislation Update

Florida Considers Assisted Living AED Legislation

March, 2010 - New pending Florida AED legislation is under consideration that would require some assisted living facilities to have an automated external defibrillator by July of this year. In addition, Senate bill S2008 would encourage the facility to register the location of the AED with a local emergency medical services (EMS) medical director.

Texas Implements AED Legislation

September, 2009 - Texas House Bill 392, which requires the placement of an Automated External Defibrillation (AED) in all nursing homes and related institutions, goes into effect on September 1, 2009.

In 2008, Texas nursing homes served more than 56,000 Texans, some of whom are among the most vulnerable and medically fragile citizens of the state. However, as of 2002, only 4 percent of nursing homes had an AED in their facility. On average among this population, the survival rate of cardiac arrest outside of a hospital without the use of an AED or CPR is about 6 percent.

School AED Legislation Update

Tennessee School AED Legislation Introduced

March, 2010 - Tennessee is the latest state to look into the placement of AEDs at schools and sporting events. Tennessee House Bill 3250 (TN HB 3250) and Senate Bill 2505 (TN SB 2505) start the important process of placing automated external defibrilators in ALL Tennessee schools.

Wisconsin May Require AED, CPR Classes in High Schools

January, 2010 - The State of Wisconsin is considering AED legislation that would require high schools to offer classes in CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

Kentucky Adopts AED Legislation

Kentucky House Bill 383 (Kentucky HB 383) is a recently adopted piece of AED legislation that states “The Kentucky High School Athletics Association, with assistance from the Kentucky Department of Education, shall staff and coordinate a study of sports safety to be completed no later than October 1, 2009”. This study will include a review of several key items/programs aimed at increasing the safety of student athletes, spectators and coaches. It will look into mandating the placement of AEDs at sporting events, training both students and coaches in CPR and the use of an AED, and creating comprehensive emergency response training programs.

In recent years, an increasing number of state legislatures, regulators, and rule-making bodies have begun to call for–and often require–the installation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on the premises of every school facility.

Health Clubs and Physical Therapy Office AED Legislation Updates

New AED Legislation in Maryland, Oregon, and Wisconsin 

February, 2010 - The State of Maryland has introduced AED legislation which requires a physical therapy office to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) on site and to have a staff member trained in CPR and how to use the AED. House Bill 293 prohibits any licensed physical therapist from performing physical therapy unless there is an automated external defibrillator present and there is a staff member present that has received certification in CPR and the use of the AED. 

Congress Acts on AEDs

In May 2002, Congress incorporated the Community Access to Emergency Devices Act (Community AED Act) into H.R. 3448 (sections 159, 312 and 313) of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Response Act. l.

The bill also encourages private companies to purchase AEDs and to train employees in CPR and emergency defibrillation. The President signed the bill on June 12, 2002 as Public Law 107-188.

National Conference of State Legislatures
State Laws on Heart Attacks & Defibrillators: Encouraging community
access and use.

National Center for Early Defibrillation
http://www.early-defib.org/