Washington AED Laws.

This is the foundational statute governing AED acquisition in Washington. It defines a defibrillator as a semiautomatic external defibrillator prescribed by a licensed physician or osteopath.

A person or entity that acquires an AED must ensure expected users receive reasonable instruction in AED use and CPR through a course approved by the Department of Health. The AED must be maintained and tested according to the manufacturer’s operational guidelines. Upon acquisition, the acquirer must enlist medical direction from a licensed physician for AED use and CPR. The acquirer must also notify the local emergency medical services organization about the AED’s existence and location.

After emergency AED use, the AED user must call 911 or the local equivalent as soon as possible and make appropriate follow-up data available when requested by EMS or other health care providers.

The owner of a qualifying fitness center must acquire and maintain at least one semiautomatic external defibrillator on premises. The fitness center must comply with RCW 70.54.310, including personnel instruction, AED maintenance, and notification of the local emergency medical services organization about the AED’s location.

An employee of a fitness center who has completed the required instruction may render emergency care or treatment using the AED on the fitness center premises. A person who uses an AED at the scene of an emergency is immune from civil liability under RCW 70.54.310.

This statute protects any person, including a volunteer provider of emergency or medical services, who renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency without compensation or expectation of compensation. It also covers participation in transporting an injured person for emergency medical treatment without compensation.

Protection does not apply to acts or omissions that constitute gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. A person who renders emergency care during regular employment and receives or expects compensation for that care is excluded from protection under this subsection.

Each school district that operates a high school must offer CPR instruction to students. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, CPR instruction must be included in at least one health class necessary for graduation.

The instruction must follow an American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or other nationally recognized evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care program. It must include appropriate use of an automated external defibrillator, which may be taught by video, and must incorporate hands-on practice in addition to cognitive learning.

School districts may provide the instruction directly or arrange for community-based providers to deliver it. The instruction does not need to be provided by a certificated teacher, and students are not required to earn CPR certification to complete the instruction.

This statute directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop guidance for a medical emergency response and automated external defibrillator program for high schools.

The program guidance must comply with current evidence-based guidance from the American Heart Association or another national science organization. OSPI, in consultation with the Department of Health, must also assist districts in carrying out a program under this section, including guidance on seeking grants or donations for AED purchases.

Employers with employees who operate, maintain, or construct high-voltage lines and equipment, or who conduct line-clearance tree trimming near high-voltage lines and equipment, must make an AED available and accessible when work is performed on or near high-voltage lines and equipment by two or more employees.

Employers must conduct regular maintenance and annual inspections of the AED to ensure operability and availability. They must also provide or facilitate AED training so that at least two employees are proficient in proper and safe AED use at any site involving this work. To be considered proficient, an employee must have completed initial or updated AED training within the previous two years.

This regulation supports AED requirements for employers with employees who operate, maintain, or construct high-voltage lines and equipment, or conduct line-clearance tree trimming near high-voltage lines and equipment.

The employer must make an AED available, similar to first-aid kits under WAC 296-800-15020(1), and accessible when work is performed on or near high-voltage lines and equipment by two or more employees.

The AED must receive regular maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, and annual inspections must be conducted to ensure operability and availability. The employer must also provide or facilitate training so at least two employees are proficient in proper and safe AED use at any relevant worksite. Employees must have completed initial or updated training within the previous two years to be considered proficient.

This regulation applies similar AED requirements for work on or near high-voltage lines and equipment.

Employers must make an AED available, similar to required first-aid kits, and accessible when work is performed on or near high-voltage lines and equipment by two or more employees.

The AED must be maintained regularly according to manufacturer instructions, and annual inspections must confirm operability and availability. Employers must also provide or facilitate training so that at least two employees are proficient in proper and safe AED use at any site involving work on or near high-voltage lines and equipment. Employees must have completed initial or updated AED training within the previous two years to be considered proficient.