As public awareness of the effectiveness of AEDs grows, states are expanding the list of facilities and institutions required to have defibrillators accessible and staff trained to use them.
On Feb. 23, the New Jersey Senate voted unanimously to approve a bill that would require assisted living facilities in the state to install centrally located automated external defibrillators. Staff in the facilities would be trained to use the AEDs to administer shock to victims of sudden cardiac arrest or heart arrhythmia.
According to New Jersey State Senator Fred H. Madden, sponsor of the bill, the legislation would extend to assisted living facilities requirements currently in place for the state’s nursing homes and other health care institutions. Facilities covered by the proposed legislation would be required to purchase at least one AED and pay for CPR/AED training for staff.
The magazine Assisted Living Consult advises facilities that having an AED on site is good protection against a lawsuit.
“Imagine the field day a malpractice attorney would have if an assisted living resident suffered a cardiac arrest in a facility that marketed itself as providing ‘individualized clinical support’ but had no AED,” the publication notes.
The New Jersey measure goes next to the State Assembly. If the Assembly votes to approve, New Jersey assisted living facilities would have one year to acquire defibrillators and conduct staff training.
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April 21st, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I think it would be a great idea to use the AED there, as long as everyone is trained on how to use it properly.