AEDs Save Lives
AED Laws In Your State
Of the 220,000 cardiac arrests that occur in the United States each year, 10,000 occur in the workplace. Of those not treated with immediate defibrillation (AED), survival rate is 5-7 %. Conversely, studies show that those treated immediately have a 60 percent survival rate a year later.[1]
These statistics support the need for businesses of every sort to have AEDs onsite and to keep them up to date. Whether it’s a customer or an employee experiencing cardiac arrest, an onsite AED can improve survival odds before emergency medical services (EMS) arrive. By helping stabilize the victim’s condition and, in some cases, getting the heart beating again, an AED can also help prevent damage to the heart and other organs. Typically, a person experiencing cardiac arrest without treatment will lose consciousness, oxygen will stop reaching the brain and death will follow. Onsite treatment using an AED can prevent this and keep the victim’s condition from worsening while EMS is on the way.
Because of the life-saving benefits of onsite AEDs, starting in 1997 laws were passed in the USA requiring AEDs mandatory for certain businesses. The first state to enact AED laws was Florida. After that, many other states followed and by 2001, AED laws were enacted in all 50 states. Laws vary from state to state, however physical fitness centers, schools, medical facilities, government offices, police vehicles and places of public assembly were generally required to have AEDs onsite.
As AED laws are often changed in various states, it is important for businesses to periodically check the laws to make sure their businesses are compliant. This ensures indemnification against liability and readiness respond should an employee or customer suffer cardiac arrest. Fortunately, Good Samaritan Laws govern the operation of AEDs and protect employees administering defibrillation from being sued.
For more information about AED Laws in your state, please click on the link below, and it will take you to a searchable page with all the current laws for every state in the USA. (link)
[1] Data from United States Department of Labor, source: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/3185.html