What to know about owning an AED in New York State (Article)
What do you need to know about owning an AED in New York State?
Each state has their own specific requirements when it comes to owning and operating an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Additionally, these requirements may be broken down even further by city, county or town. Here, we will look at the overall requirements pertaining to New York State as a whole. Additionally, thePublic Access Defibrillation Act, passed in 1998. This law requires all public and private schools, state-owned buildings, and health clubs with a membership 500 or more to have an AED at the location. The law also requires that at least one person on staff be trained on how to use an AED.
Public Access Requirements
- Individuals must complete a training course approved by a nationally-recognized organization or the state emergency medical services council before operating an AED, unless they are a licensed healthcare practitioner, acting under a lawful prescription, or providing first aid in good faith without expectation of compensation.
- Public access defibrillation providers must maintain and test AEDs according to manufacturer and government standards, notify the regional council of their existence and location, and report every use of an AED to the appropriate emergency medical services system.
- The emergency healthcare provider must participate in a regional quality improvement program, and the public access defibrillation provider must post a sign indicating the location of the AED.
New York State Assembly Bill A10322
This proposed bill has been passed by the assembly and is awaiting signature from the Governor. The bill requires camps and youth leagues to have automated external defibrillators and to have at least one person trained to use such defibrillators at camps, games and practices.
What does this mean for you?
The current and proposed legislation in New York State means that in the very near future, the requirement to have an AED on hand and have personnel trained to use an AED is going to expand rapidly. There are many training courses available across the state by nationally accredited sources. If you would like more information about how you or your organization can remain current or become compliant with New York State AED laws, please reach out to our team at Avobus Equipment and we will be more than happy to assist.
New York State Assembly Bill A10322 information can be found here: Nysenate.gov
Current New York State legislation regarding public AED requirements: Nysenate.gov
