AED Laws

Good Samaritan Protection

To promote the purchase and use of public access AEDs, the U.S. government established Good Samaritan protection in 2000. This protection is intended to dispel any fear that your employees might face legal or criminal consequences for attempting to help a person in need.

Most AED laws impose minimal requirements to guarantee Good Samaritan protection. Should your program’s compliance ever be questioned, the tracking and documentation available through Rescue Ready Services can demonstrate that your AED program management system complies with all Good Samaritan requirements.

Medical Oversight

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies most AEDs as Class III medical devices that require thorough and rigorous testing for safety. As a Class III medical device, an AED requires a prescription (or medical authorization) at time of purchase. However, an AED prescription is unlike a prescription for medication; a trained responder is needed to use an AED and to perform CPR.

In addition to the U.S. federal requirement for medical authorization, individual states and counties may impose requirements for purchasing or owning an AED. Some states require that the prescribing physician is licensed in the area where the AED will be used. Rescue Ready Services not only provides a national medical director to oversee your program, but also local doctors to satisfy specific requirements.

Medical Direction

Medical direction is the creation of protocols and response plans; or where to go and what to do if sudden cardiac arrest occurs. Medical direction requirements vary by state. The Rescue Ready Services team can assist you with fulfilling these requirements as part of your program.

Your overseeing medical director will create a plan for you to follow that offers the best possible chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest using your AED. You will receive a customizable set of instructions detailing what to do with your AED, from maintenance intervals to post-use medical reviews that can be shared with local EMS and treating physicians, if needed.

State Regulations for AED Maintenance & Testing

Some of the best and most promising state AED laws call for testing and maintenance of AEDs as part of a Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program. These states recognize that owning an AED is a first step – maintaining them to ensure that they are always ready for the rescue can help save lives. Learn how Rescue Ready Services supports you in meeting these AED requirements.