Oregon AED laws focus heavily on AED placement, school preparedness, emergency-use immunity, and facility-specific access requirements. Based on the statutes and regulations listed here, Oregon does not impose the same statewide AED program requirements found in some other states, such as a universal physician medical direction requirement, formal EMS notification requirement, or structured AED registration requirement simply because a person or organization acquires an AED.
Good Samaritan immunity under ORS 30.802 is broad. It can protect a person who uses or attempts to use an AED, a person who is present when an AED is used or should have been used, a person who provides AED training, a physician or licensed health care professional who provides services related to AED placement or use, and a person or entity that possesses or controls an AED in a public setting. This protection does not apply to gross negligence or reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct.
Oregon does mandate AED placement in several settings. AEDs are required on school campuses, in qualifying indoor health clubs, in qualifying places of public assembly, in resident camps, and at general-use pools and certain health club pools. Students in grades 7 through 12 must also receive CPR and AED instruction as part of health education or physical education curriculum.
Not legal advice. This page summarizes publicly available statutes for informational purposes. Laws change and individual circumstances vary — consult a qualified attorney or your state health department before relying on this for compliance decisions.
Upcoming requirement: New school cardiac emergency response plan rules take effect July 1, 2027, first applying to the 2027-2028 school year. See ORS 339.345 below for details.
Oregon AED Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Summary |
|---|---|
| Good Samaritan Law | Civil liability immunity may apply to AED users, attempted users, trainers, certain physicians or licensed health care professionals, AED possessors or controllers in a public setting, and people present when an AED was used or should have been used. It does not apply to gross negligence or reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct. |
| Schools | Each school campus in a school district, private school campus, and public charter school campus must have at least one AED on the premises. |
| School Cardiac Emergency Plan Eff. 2027 | New requirements effective July 1, 2027, and first applicable to the 2027-2028 school year, require every K-12 public or private school to have a cardiac emergency response plan. |
| CPR/AED Training | School districts must provide CPR and AED instruction as part of health education or physical education curriculum for students in grades 7 through 12. |
| Health Clubs | Indoor health clubs that meet the statutory definition and typically have 50 or more employees, patrons, or members participating in exercise or athletic activities on a regular business day must have at least one AED on premises at all times. |
| Public Assembly | Qualifying buildings with 50,000 or more square feet of indoor floor space and at least 50 people congregating on a normal business day must have at least one AED. |
| Community Colleges and Public Universities | Community colleges and public universities must have at least one AED on campus. If the campus has more than one qualifying place of public assembly, at least one AED must be readily available to each qualifying place of public assembly. |
| Resident Camps | Resident camps must have at least one AED that is centrally located for quick access, properly maintained according to manufacturer recommendations, and identified by signage. |
| Swimming Pools | All general-use pools, and pools at health clubs serving 100 patrons or more per day, must provide an AED on site and accessible for use. |
Oregon AED Statutes & Regulations
ORS 30.802
Liability for use of automated external defibrillator
Oregon’s broad Good Samaritan immunity for AED use, training, and placement
▾
Oregon’s AED immunity law protects several categories of people and organizations connected to AED use, AED training, AED placement, and AED possession or control in a public setting.
The statute may protect a person who uses or attempts to use an AED, a person who is present when an AED is used or should have been used, a person who provides AED training, a physician or licensed health care professional who provides services related to AED placement or use, and a person or entity that possesses or controls an AED in a public setting.
ORS 339.345
AED requirement in schools
Mandatory campus AEDs, plus a new 2027 cardiac emergency response plan requirement
▾
Each school campus in a school district, private school campus, and public charter school campus must have at least one automated external defibrillator on the premises.
The AED locations must be clearly identified, unlocked, and accessible when students are at school and when students are at athletic practices or competitions at the school. The plan must also establish a procedure for sharing AED locations with local EMS providers, require AED maintenance and testing according to manufacturer guidelines, require every coach and other appropriate staff to be trained in CPR and AED use, and provide for an annual review of the plan and school compliance.
ORS 336.472
CPR and AED instruction for grades 7 through 12
Curriculum requirement with hands-on CPR practice
▾
Each school district must provide CPR and AED instruction as part of the health education or physical education curriculum for students in grades 7 through 12.
The instruction must include hands-on practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and be developed by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or another organization that has developed an instructional program based on current, nationally recognized emergency cardiac care guidelines.
Instruction may be taught by people who are not licensed teachers but are certified to provide the instruction, including community volunteers. It may also be taught by licensed teachers who are not certified to provide the instruction.
ORS 431A.450
AED requirement in health clubs
Mandatory AED for qualifying indoor health clubs
▾
Oregon requires qualifying health clubs to have at least one AED on premises at all times.
The AED requirement does not apply to a facility owned by a hotel as defined in ORS 699.005.
ORS 431A.455
AED requirement in places of public assembly
Large-building AED mandate, plus campus-wide rules for colleges and universities
▾
Oregon requires the owner of a qualifying place of public assembly to have at least one AED on the premises.
Community colleges and public universities must have at least one AED on campus. If the campus contains more than one qualifying place of public assembly, the institution must ensure that at least one AED is readily available to each qualifying place of public assembly.
This requirement does not apply to a building primarily used for worship or education associated with worship.
OAR 333-030-0105
Camp health services
AED requirement for resident camps
▾
Oregon’s camp health services rule requires resident camps to have at least one AED.
The AED must be centrally located for quick access, properly maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, and identified by signage.
OAR 333-060-1000
Aquatic facilities, design standards and construction
AED, training, and 911-response policy requirements for pools
▾
Oregon requires all general-use pools, and pools at health clubs serving 100 patrons or more per day, to provide an AED on site and accessible for use.
The AED must be maintained, inspected, and serviced, including the battery and electrodes, according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. It must be stored in a location where it is accessible and can be quickly retrieved. Signage must indicate the AED’s location.
There must be a sufficient number of employees trained in AED use, including all lifeguards, so that at least one trained person is on site whenever the pool is open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Oregon require physician medical direction for AED programs?+
Based on the statutes and regulations listed here, Oregon does not require physician medical direction simply because a person or organization acquires or operates an AED. Oregon’s AED laws focus more on immunity, AED placement in specific facilities, school preparedness, and facility-specific access rules.
Who is protected by Oregon’s AED Good Samaritan law?+
ORS 30.802 may protect a person who uses or attempts to use an AED, anyone present when an AED was used or should have been used, AED trainers, physicians or licensed health care professionals involved in AED placement or use, and people or entities that possess or control an AED in a public setting. Immunity does not cover gross negligence or reckless, wanton, or intentional misconduct.
Do Oregon schools need AEDs?+
Yes. ORS 339.345 requires each school campus in a school district, private school campus, and public charter school campus to have at least one AED on premises.
What school AED changes take effect in Oregon in 2027?+
Effective July 1, 2027, and first applicable to the 2027-2028 school year, every kindergarten through grade 12 public or private school must have a cardiac emergency response plan. The plan must address AED placement, accessibility, EMS location sharing, manufacturer-guideline maintenance and testing, coach and staff training, and annual plan review.
Do Oregon gyms need AEDs?+
Yes, if they meet the statutory definition of a health club. ORS 431A.450 requires qualifying indoor health clubs to have at least one AED on premises at all times. The requirement applies to facilities that primarily offer exercise or athletic activities for a fee and typically have 50 or more employees, patrons, or members participating in those activities on a regular business day.
What buildings qualify as places of public assembly under Oregon law?+
Under ORS 431A.455, a place of public assembly is a single building with 50,000 square feet or more of indoor floor space where the public congregates or where business activities are conducted, and where at least 50 individuals congregate on a normal business day. Buildings primarily used for worship or education associated with worship are exempt.
Do Oregon resident camps need AEDs?+
Yes. OAR 333-030-0105 requires resident camps to have at least one AED. The AED must be centrally located for quick access, properly maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, and identified by signage.
Do Oregon swimming pools need AEDs?+
Yes, for all general-use pools and pools at health clubs serving 100 patrons or more per day. The AED must be on site, accessible, maintained, inspected, serviced according to manufacturer guidelines, clearly signed, and supported by a written AED-use policy that includes contacting 911.
Does Oregon require AED maintenance records?+
The provided school rules require AED maintenance and testing according to manufacturer guidelines under the cardiac emergency response plan requirements effective July 1, 2027. The aquatic facility rule requires AED maintenance, inspection, and servicing according to manufacturer guidelines. The resident camp rule requires proper maintenance according to manufacturer recommendations. The provided statutes and regulations do not create a universal AED maintenance record retention period for every AED owner.
Keep your Oregon AED program audit-ready
Track maintenance records, pad and battery expirations, and staff training across schools, health clubs, camps, and pools — automatically, in one dashboard.
Statutes cited from oregon.public.law and the Oregon Legislative Assembly.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a qualified attorney or your state health department.