Automated external defibrillators (AED) are the number one treatment for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), one of the nation’s leading killers. They are portable, user-friendly devices that even lay rescuers can use in an emergency to help save a life. As a result, many workplaces are required by law to have them on-site and many other workplaces have them on-site simply because they recognize their value as life-saving technology. AEDs are smart, responsible devices to have in your first aid and medical emergency tool belt, but owning one does come with liability.
So, you want to provide a safe working environment and be as prepared as possible in the event of SCA, but how can you be sure you’ve fully mitigated all AED program legal risk for your facilities or organization? Here’s the answer: know your state AED owner laws. AED owner laws exist in every state but vary widely. These laws require administrative and/or operational procedures for AED programs, help provide Good Samaritan and civil liability immunity protection, or even mandate AED ownership and deployments.
State AED owner laws do impact AED program operations and create or mitigate liability risk. It is important that you have an accurate and complete understanding of your state’s AED laws so you can ensure regulatory compliance, avoid costly administrative sanctions, and preserve any available Good Samaritan or civil liability immunity protections as an AED owner or for AED users within your organization.
That said, navigating state laws can be tricky and time consuming. That’s why some companies try to sell you a subscription to accessing information on state laws, with discounted multi-seat subscriptions for larger organizations. But, why pay when you can get your AED state law information for free through the First Voice State AED Laws portal?
That’s right, we offer a no-cost subscription that makes learning about and mitigating the risks of AED ownership a snap! All you have to do is visit our AED State Laws page and fill out the form. We’ll get back to you within one (1) business day, and you’ll be well on your way to safe, informed AED ownership.
We hope to you hear from you soon, and we thank you for helping us every day to make minutes matter!