Alaska AED requirements at a glance
Here is what Alaska law asks of an AED program, row by row, with the statute behind each answer.
| Requirement | Required? | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect and maintain AEDs | No | No owner duty. Until 2015 an owner lost immunity for failing to maintain and test the AED; 2015 SLA ch. 19 removed that condition (AS 09.65.087(b)). |
| Train expected users | No | No owner duty. 7 AAC 26.585 sets standards for organizations that run AED training courses but does not require anyone to take one. |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | No | Not in state law. |
| Register the program | No | Not in state law. |
| Report AED locations | No | No owner duty. The former condition that owners notify the local EMS authority within 30 days of placing an AED was struck in 2015 (2015 SLA ch. 19). |
| Physician medical direction | No | Not in state law. |
| Report each AED use | No | Not in state law. |
| Written plan or records | No | Not in state law. |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | Yes | No owner duty, but a user's immunity does not cover damages that result from failing to notify the appropriate emergency medical services agency, so a user who skips that step can be sued for the resulting harm (AS 09.65.087(a)). |
| School cardiac emergency plan | No | No law. HB 92 (34th Legislature), which would add a school hands-only CPR curriculum that includes AED use as AS 14.30.363, is not in the current statutes. |
| Other requirements | No | Not in state law. |
| AEDs required at specific sites | No | Not in state law. |
Compare nearby states: Washington, Oregon and Hawaii, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in Alaska?
No. Alaska law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program.
Some programs choose a medical director anyway, for example to write the response protocol or review each use. If you want one, AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Training requirements
No. Alaska law doesn’t require AED training for AED owners in general.
No owner duty. 7 AAC 26.585 sets standards for organizations that run AED training courses but does not require anyone to take one.
Training still matters: an AED talks the rescuer through each step, but people who have practiced start CPR sooner and hesitate less. Keep each responder’s card current, since most CPR and AED cards last two years. See how long CPR and AED certification lasts.
Inspection and maintenance
No. Alaska law doesn’t set an inspection or maintenance rule for AED owners in general.
No owner duty. Until 2015 an owner lost immunity for failing to maintain and test the AED; 2015 SLA ch. 19 removed that condition (AS 09.65.087(b)).
Either way, the manufacturer’s instructions are the standard to follow: check the status indicator, the pads’ and battery’s expiration dates and the cabinet on a regular schedule, replace anything used or expired, and keep a dated record of each check. Our AED inspection requirements guide covers the routine, and the free AED inspection checklist is a printable version.
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
No. Alaska law doesn’t require AED owners to register their AEDs or report where they are.
Telling your local EMS agency about your AEDs is still worth doing: some 911 centers can direct a caller to the nearest one. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
Yes. Alaska law requires the person who uses an AED to call 911 or notify EMS.
Calling 911: No owner duty, but a user's immunity does not cover damages that result from failing to notify the appropriate emergency medical services agency, so a user who skips that step can be sued for the resulting harm (AS 09.65.087(a)).
After any use, replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh. AED Log’s incident reports record whether a shock was advised, how many were delivered, whether CPR was given and when EMS arrived.
AEDs required at specific locations in Alaska
No. Alaska law doesn’t require AEDs at any particular kind of site.
That doesn’t make an AED optional everywhere: insurers, landlords, accreditors and other rules can still ask for one, and an AED is the only treatment that can restart a heart in cardiac arrest.
Does Alaska's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes, with conditions. Alaska protects people who use an AED in good faith, but some of that protection depends on the AED program meeting the law’s duties.
What the Alaska (AK) Good Samaritan law covers: Alaska's general Good Samaritan law protects anyone, at a hospital or elsewhere, who gives emergency care or counseling to a person who reasonably appears to need immediate help to avoid serious harm or death. It does not cover gross negligence or reckless or intentional misconduct (AS 09.65.090).
AED-specific protection: Anyone who uses or tries to use an AED on someone in a perceived medical emergency is protected, except for damages caused by not notifying EMS. Whoever acquired or provided the AED is protected unless grossly negligent. Manufacturers are not covered.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on Alaska’s official legislature or code website.
- AS 09.65.087 (as amended by 2015 SLA ch. 19): Civil liability for use of an automated external defibrillator
- AS 09.65.090: Civil liability for emergency aid (general Good Samaritan law)
- 2015 SLA ch. 19 (HB 4): An Act relating to automated external defibrillators (struck the owner-immunity conditions)
- 7 AAC 26.585: Approved automated external defibrillation training programs
Last reviewed against each statute on the state’s official website. This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so read the statute or ask a lawyer before you rely on it.
Managing a compliant AED program in Alaska
AED Log keeps the records Alaska law asks for, and reminds you before anything lapses.
- Monthly AED inspections on a phone, with a dated record of every check (inspection tracking)
- Pad and battery expiration dates, with a warning before each one (expiration tracking)
- A report for every AED use, so the details are on record (incident reporting)
Plans start at $114 a year for one AED, with unlimited users and locations. Start a free trial (no credit card) or talk to us.
Alaska AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in Alaska?
No. Neither Alaska law nor federal OSHA requires businesses to have an AED. An insurer, landlord or accreditor may still ask for one.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in Alaska?
No. Alaska law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program. You can still choose one: AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Is AED training required in Alaska?
Not for AED owners in general. 7 AAC 26.585 sets standards for organizations that run AED training courses but does not require anyone to take one.
Does Alaska law require AED inspections?
Not for AED owners in general. Until 2015 an owner lost immunity for failing to maintain and test the AED; 2015 SLA ch. 19 removed that condition (AS 09.65.087(b)).
Do you have to register an AED in Alaska?
No. Alaska law doesn’t require AED owners to register an AED or report where it is. Telling your local EMS agency is still worth doing: some 911 centers can direct a caller to the nearest AED.
What does Alaska law require after an AED is used?
No owner duty, but a user's immunity does not cover damages that result from failing to notify the appropriate emergency medical services agency, so a user who skips that step can be sued for the resulting harm (AS 09.65.087(a)).
Are AEDs required in Alaska schools?
No. Alaska law doesn’t require AEDs in schools or at school sports.
Do gyms in Alaska need an AED?
No. Alaska law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
What does the Alaska Good Samaritan law cover?
Alaska's general Good Samaritan law protects anyone, at a hospital or elsewhere, who gives emergency care or counseling to a person who reasonably appears to need immediate help to avoid serious harm or death. It does not cover gross negligence or reckless or intentional misconduct (AS 09.65.090).
Does the Alaska Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes, with conditions. Any AED user and the AED's acquirer are protected, but the user's shield does not reach harm caused by failing to notify EMS, and the owner's does not reach gross negligence (AS 09.65.087).
Which Alaska laws cover AEDs?
Alaska’s AED rules come from AS 09.65.087 (as amended by 2015 SLA ch. 19), AS 09.65.090, 2015 SLA ch. 19 (HB 4) and 7 AAC 26.585, each linked to its official text on this page.