Rhode Island AED requirements at a glance
Here is what Rhode Island 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 | Limited | No rule for AED owners in general. |
| Train expected users | Limited | No general rule. |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | Limited | Through AED placement reporting: see that row. |
| Register the program | No | Not in state law. |
| Report AED locations | Limited | No general rule. |
| Physician medical direction | No | Not in state law. |
| Report each AED use | No | Not in state law. |
| Written plan or records | Limited | No general rule. |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | No | Not in state law. |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Starting with the 2027-28 school year, every public and private middle and high school must develop a cardiac emergency response plan covering staff response, AED placement, signs, maintenance, EMS notice and staff training. Schools with athletic programs also need a venue-specific athletic emergency action plan, posted and rehearsed yearly (R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-33.1; P.L. 2026, ch. 36 and 37). |
| Other requirements | Limited | No general rule. |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | Large public venues, licensed healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics, surgery centers and hospices, nursing homes or assisted living, some dental offices, health clubs, schools and school sports. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in Rhode Island?
No. Rhode Island 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
Only in certain settings. Rhode Island doesn’t require training for AED owners in general, but the law names some settings that must train people.
No general rule.
Public places and healthcare facilities need at least one AED-trained person (§ 23-6.5-2).
Health clubs need a trained employee each shift unless key-pass only (§ 5-50-12).
Schools need a CPR/AED-trained person at school activities, and since 2026 all middle and high school coaches must keep first aid, CPR and AED training (§ 16-21-33.1).
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
Only in certain settings. Rhode Island sets maintenance rules for some AED owners, not all.
No rule for AED owners in general.
Owners and operators of public places (300+ capacity) and healthcare facilities must provide and maintain functional AEDs on site (R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-6.5-2).
Middle and high schools must provide and maintain functional AEDs, and the 2026 amendments add testing and maintenance per the manufacturer (§ 16-21-33.1).
Written plan and records: No general rule. Starting with the 2027-28 school year, each middle and high school must have a written cardiac emergency response plan, and those with athletic programs a written, venue-specific athletic emergency action plan (R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-33.1(b), (d), (e)).
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
Only in some cases. Rhode Island doesn’t require every AED owner to register or report AED locations.
Placement reporting: No general rule. Middle and high schools must tell their EMS provider about each AED, its type and its location, under the 2026 school plan provisions tied to the 2027-28 school year (R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-33.1(d)(3), (e)(2)).
Keep the confirmation with your program records, and update it when an AED moves or is replaced. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
No. Rhode Island law doesn’t require a report after an AED is used.
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 Rhode Island
Yes. Rhode Island law requires AEDs at seven kinds of sites.
- Public places that hold 300 or more people, such as stores, restaurants, banks, arenas and transit facilities (with at least one trained person) R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-6.5 (§§ 23-6.5-1 to 23-6.5-4)
- Licensed healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics, surgery centers and hospices (since September 1, 2024, with a trained person) R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-6.5 (§§ 23-6.5-1 to 23-6.5-4)
- Nursing facilities (since September 1, 2024, with a trained person) R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-6.5 (§§ 23-6.5-1 to 23-6.5-4)
- Physician, dentist and other practitioner offices (since September 1, 2024, with a trained person) R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-6.5 (§§ 23-6.5-1 to 23-6.5-4)
- Health clubs registered with the Attorney General (with a trained employee on each shift) R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-50-12
- Public and private middle and high schools (with a trained person at school activities and sports) R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-33.1, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 36 (H 7027) and ch. 37 (S 2079), enacted June 10, 2026
- Middle and high school athletic venues (clearly marked and unlocked during practices and events) R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-33.1, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 36 (H 7027) and ch. 37 (S 2079), enacted June 10, 2026
School cardiac emergency plans: Starting with the 2027-28 school year, every public and private middle and high school must develop a cardiac emergency response plan covering staff response, AED placement, signs, maintenance, EMS notice and staff training. Schools with athletic programs also need a venue-specific athletic emergency action plan, posted and rehearsed yearly (R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-33.1; P.L. 2026, ch. 36 and 37).
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Other Rhode Island AED rules
No general rule.
School AEDs must have signs and sit in unlocked locations on school property, and an AED must be clearly marked and unlocked at each athletic venue during school practices and events (R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-33.1(d)(3), (e)(2)).
Health club AEDs must be placed for best access by staff, members and guests (§ 5-50-12).
Does Rhode Island's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Partly. Rhode Island protects people who use an AED in good faith, but its protection for the AED’s owner is narrower.
What the Rhode Island (RI) Good Samaritan law covers: Anyone who voluntarily and without pay gives emergency help to a person in need is not liable for ordinary negligence. Gross negligence and willful or wanton conduct are not covered.
AED-specific protection: The AED immunity covers only rescuers trained to AHA or Red Cross standards who help without pay; it shields them from ordinary negligence but not gross, willful or wanton negligence. Property owners and lessees, and the owner of the AED, are protected without stated conditions. An untrained helper could still invoke the general Good Samaritan law, which covers any voluntary, unpaid emergency help.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on Rhode Island’s official legislature or code website.
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-34: Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation or automated external defibrillation - Immunity from liability
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-27.1: Good Samaritan - Immunity from liability
- R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 23-6.5 (§§ 23-6.5-1 to 23-6.5-4): Automated External Defibrillators Required at Public Places and Healthcare Facilities
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-50-12: Defibrillators (health clubs)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-33.1, as amended by P.L. 2026, ch. 36 (H 7027) and ch. 37 (S 2079), enacted June 10, 2026: Automated external defibrillators, cardiac emergency response plans, and athletic emergency action plans
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-6.2-2: State to provide and distribute defibrillators
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 Rhode Island
AED Log keeps the records Rhode Island 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)
- Responders’ CPR and AED cards, with an alert before each expires (certification tracking)
- Registrations, EMS notices and your written plan, filed with the AEDs they cover (document management)
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.
Rhode Island AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in Rhode Island?
Only certain kinds. Rhode Island law requires AEDs at public places that hold 300 or more people, such as stores, restaurants, banks, arenas and transit facilities; licensed healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics, surgery centers and hospices; and other sites listed on this page.
Where does Rhode Island law require an AED?
Rhode Island law requires AEDs in public places that hold 300 or more people, such as stores, restaurants, banks, arenas and transit facilities, plus other sites listed on this page. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in Rhode Island?
No. Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
Only in certain settings. Public places and healthcare facilities need at least one AED-trained person (§ 23-6.5-2). Health clubs need a trained employee each shift unless key-pass only (§ 5-50-12).
Does Rhode Island law require AED inspections?
Only for some AED owners. Owners and operators of public places (300+ capacity) and healthcare facilities must provide and maintain functional AEDs on site. Middle and high schools must provide and maintain functional AEDs, and the 2026 amendments add testing and maintenance per the manufacturer.
Do you have to register an AED in Rhode Island?
Only in some settings. Middle and high schools must tell their EMS provider about each AED, its type and its location, under the 2026 school plan provisions tied to the 2027-28 school year (R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21-33.1(d)(3), (e)(2)).
What does Rhode Island law require after an AED is used?
Rhode Island law doesn’t require a report after an AED is used. Call 911 anyway, then replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh.
Are AEDs required in Rhode Island schools?
Rhode Island law requires AEDs at public and private middle and high schools (with a trained person at school activities and sports) and middle and high school athletic venues (clearly marked and unlocked during practices and events).
Do Rhode Island schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. Starting with the 2027-28 school year, every public and private middle and high school must develop a cardiac emergency response plan covering staff response, AED placement, signs, maintenance, EMS notice and staff training.
Do gyms in Rhode Island need an AED?
Rhode Island law requires AEDs at health clubs registered with the Attorney General (with a trained employee on each shift).
Are AEDs required in nursing homes in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island law requires AEDs at nursing facilities (since September 1, 2024, with a trained person).
Do dental offices in Rhode Island need an AED?
Rhode Island law requires AEDs at physician, dentist and other practitioner offices (since September 1, 2024, with a trained person).
What does the Rhode Island Good Samaritan law cover?
Anyone who voluntarily and without pay gives emergency help to a person in need is not liable for ordinary negligence. Gross negligence and willful or wanton conduct are not covered.
Does the Rhode Island Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes for the rescuer, less so for the owner. Only users trained to AHA or Red Cross standards get the AED immunity, though property owners, lessees and the AED's owner are protected with no stated conditions (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-34).