Automated External Defibrillators

Public Schools Districts are required to have Automated External Defibrillators in each instructional school building and at athletic events.

Note:  Beginning November 15, 2007, all Public Access Defibrillation Providers will need to post signage at the building's main entrance indicating the locations of the AED's.  See this link for the law:  AED Signage Public Health Law.doc.  See these links for examples of signs:

• 1 (ppt)  

• 2 (pdf) 

• 3 (word)  

Please note that the department may have guidelines on these signs in the future.

1)  In order to have AED's in a school building, the school district must have a Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) plan, as required by the New York State Health Department.  This plan outlines placement, usage, maintenance, and procedures for AED's in the schools.  The plan must also be on file with the New York State Department of Health's Regional Emergency Medical Offices. 

For Washington, Warren, or Essex counties click here. (Mountain Lakes)

For Saratoga, Albany, Schenectady counties click here  (Hudson Mohawk REMO)

For Hamilton or Schoharie counties click here (Adirondack-Appalachian REMS)

2)  As with any device or drug used for medical purposes, in order to purchase an AED, a school must have a prescription from a physician.  This is could be the school doctor, or could be a doctor from the company manufacturing the AED. 

3)  Another important element is to have trained individuals to use the defibrillator.  To coordinate training through our service contact us at:

AED-CPR trainers@gw.neric.org

It is very important to maintain your AED's.  You should be:

1) Checking the AED daily to see if it is ready and available for use.

2) Checking it monthly, to ensure that alarms are functioning, that pads have not expired, and that the other equipment (gloves, CPR barriers, scissors, razors, etc) are still with the AED.

3) Periodically, you may have to submit a report to your regional emergency medical office, but this varies among the REMO's (Hudson Mohawk REMO requires a quarterly report, whether you have used it or not).

4) All PAD providers must report AED use to their local REMO, and their PAD physcian.

5) Biennially, your school district's Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) plan may expire. (Hudson Mohawk REMO's must be renewed every two years.)   If you started your PAD plan between September and December 2002, (When schools were first required to provide them) that means you should be renewing your PAD plan between September and December 2004.  Once again, you will need a physician's  signature and school administrator's original signatures.