AED public access legislation
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
"Cardiac Arrest Survival Act" (HR 2498) introduced July 13 by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) directs HHS to make recommendations regarding the placement of automated external defibrillators in federal buildings and assist federal agencies in implementing programs for placing the devices. The bill also grants immunity from civil liability to any person providing emergency medical care via an AED, under certain circumstances. A previous version of the bill (HR 1679), introduced in the 105th Congress, called on HHS to develop model state legislation for training programs and a national database to track the incidence of cardiac arrest ("The Gray Sheet" April 21, 1997, p. 3)