Pennsylvania AED Laws

A Resolution recognizing the week of June 1 through 7, 2011, as "CPR and AED Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

§ 8331.2. Good Samaritan civil immunity for use of automated external defibrillator. (a) General rule.--Any person who in good faith acquires and maintains an AED or uses an AED in an emergency shall not be liable for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions by an individual using the AED, except if acts or omissions intentionally designed to harm or any grossly negligent acts or omissions result in harm to the individual receiving the AED treatment. (b) Requirements.--Any person who acquires and maintains an AED for use in accordance with this section shall: (1) Ensure that expected AED users receive training pursuant to subsection (c). (2) Maintain and test the AED according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines. (3) Provide instruction requiring the user of the AED to utilize available means to immediately contact and activate the emergency medical services system. (c) Training.--For purposes of this section,…

.......... is permanently unconscious and has a living will directing that no cardiopulmonary resuscitation be provided to the patient in the event of the patient's cardiac or respiratory arrest. I direct any and all emergency medical services personnel, commencing on the effective date of this order, to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation (cardiac compression, invasive airway techniques, artificial ventilation, defibrillation and other related procedures) from the patient in the event of the patient's respiratory or cardiac arrest. I further direct such personnel to provide to the patient other medical interventions, such as intravenous fluids, oxygen or other therapies necessary to provide comfort care or to alleviate pain, unless directed otherwise by the patient or the emergency medical services provider's authorized medical command physician. I, the undersigned, hereby direct that in the event of my cardiac and/or respiratory arrest efforts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation not be initiated and that they may be withdrawn if…

(1) Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation has saved the lives of individuals about to experience sudden, unexpected death, present medical data indicates that cardiopulmonary resuscitation rarely leads to prolonged survival in individuals with terminal illnesses in whom death is expected. (2) In many circumstances, the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation may inflict unwanted and unnecessary pain and suffering. (3) Existing emergency medical services protocols may require emergency medical services personnel to proceed to cardiopulmonary resuscitation when an individual is found in a cardiac or respiratory arrest even if the individual has completed an advance health care directive indicating that the individual does not wish to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (4) The administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by emergency medical services personnel to an individual with an out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order offends the dignity of the individual and conflicts with standards of accepted medical practice. (5) This subchapter provides clear direction to emergency medical services personnel and…

A Resolution designating the week of June 1 through 7, 2016, as "Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in particular rights and immunities, further providing for Good Samaritan civil immunity for use of automated external defibrillator and for nonmed...

A Resolution designating the week of February 21 through 27, 2016, as "Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

(10) Pediatric first aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

"Emergency medical services provider." A health care provider recognized under the act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164, No.45), known as the Emergency Medical Services Act. The term includes those individuals recognized under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2 (relating to good Samaritan civil immunity for use of automated external defibrillator). "Health care provider." A person who is licensed, certified or otherwise authorized by the laws of this Commonwealth to administer or provide health care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession. The term includes personnel recognized under the act of July 3, 1985 (P.L.164, No.45), known as the Emergency Medical Services Act, and those individuals recognized under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2 (relating to good Samaritan civil immunity for use of automated external defibrillator). "Out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order." An order in the standard format set forth in section 5484 (relating to orders, bracelets and necklaces), supplied by the department and…

Section 8331.2 - Good Samaritan civil immunity for use of automated external defibrillator

(i) to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation from the patient in the event of respiratory or cardiac arrest; or (ii) to discontinue and cease cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the event the emergency medical services provider is presented with an order or discovers a necklace or bracelet after initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for cardiopulmonary resuscitation education.

A Resolution designating the week of February 22 through 28, 2015, as "Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

"Cardiopulmonary resuscitation." Any of the following procedures:

(a) General rule.--An emergency medical services provider shall, in the course of providing care to a principal, at all times comply with the instructions of an authorized medical command physician to withhold or discontinue cardiopulmonary resuscitation for a principal whose living will has become operative under section 5443(a) (relating to when living will operative).

(1) Causing or participating in the initiating, continuing, withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment or cardiopulmonary resuscitation from a patient or principal, if the health care provider believes in good faith that he has followed the patient's or principal's wishes as expressed in a living will, order or revocation made under this chapter.

(b) Rule for orders.--Notwithstanding the existence of an order or direction to the contrary, life-sustaining treatment, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, nutrition and hydration shall be provided to a pregnant patient unless, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty as certified on the pregnant patient's medical record by the attending physician and an obstetrician who has examined the pregnant patient, life-sustaining treatment, nutrition and hydration: (1) In the event that treatment, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, nutrition and hydration are provided to a pregnant woman, notwithstanding the existence of a living will, health care decision by a health care representative or health care agent, order or direction to the contrary, the Commonwealth shall pay all usual, customary and reasonable expenses directly, indirectly and actually incurred by the pregnant woman to whom such treatment, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, nutrition and hydration are provided.

(2) Maintenance of a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate acceptable to the board. (C) The qualified pharmacy technician has a current certificate in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

(1) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.

A Resolution recognizing the week of June 1 through 7, 2011, as "National CPR and AED Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

(i) By July 6, 1990, a current provider shall successfully complete a training program offered under § 21.52(5) (relating to AAA service responsibilities) and a basic life support course in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Basic First Aid offered through a local Red Cross Chapter or other similar resource. Failure to complete these training programs may lead to the removal of provider certification by the AAA.

A Resolution designating the week of February 22 through 28, 2015, as "Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

A Resolution designating the week of June 1 through 7, 2017, as "Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

A Resolution designating the week of June 1 through 7, 2018, as "Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

A Resolution designating the week of June 1 through 7, 2018, as "Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

A Resolution designating the week of June 1 through 7, 2019, as "Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, further providing for automated external defibrillators.