Indianapolis Indiana CPR Health and Safety Training

Everything you ever wanted to know about the AED

Am I Liable?

Good Samaritan laws have been passed in all fifty states that provide rescuers civil immunity in cases where they volunteer to help. This legislation also covers the use of AEDs and applies as long as the rescuer is not paid to perform rescue skills as part of his job. persons such as, Paramedics, EMTs, Nurses, Doctors, and so on, are not covered under the Good Samaritan Act.

The assumption under Good Samaritan protection is that the rescuer follows normal guidelines and applies them reasonably and prudently. In an emergency, rescuers are called upon to make many fast judgments. As long as those judgments are reasonable, no legal consequences will follow.

Good Samaritan laws differ from state to state. Some protect rescuers who use AEDs even if they never went through training while others require completion of a state or nationally recognized class. Other states not only protect the rescuer but also the physician who serves as medical director, the owner of the facility where the AED is located, and even the person or entity that provided training in AED and CPR skills. Since such variation exists, you should take the time to familiarize yourself with the statutes that apply to your state.