AED Legal Analysis for Colorado

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Summary

A person or entity that acquires an AED must ensure that expected AED users receive training in CPR/AED use. CPR/AED training is also required for all school athletic coaches.

Acquirers of AEDs are responsible for providing written plans for AED placement, training, medical oversight, AED maintenance, identification of personnel authorized to use AEDs, and reporting of AED utilization. A Colorado-licensed physician must review and approve these written plans. Additionally, the type and location of the AED must be reported to applicable emergency services.

Good Samaritan civil immunity protections apply for a rescuer who in good faith and without compensation renders emergency care by the use of an AED. Civil immunity also applies to the person or entity responsible for the site where the AED is located, provided the AED is maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's guidelines and written records are maintained of this maintenance and testing.

Public schools or people who own, operate, or manage a public place are encouraged to place AEDs in sufficient quantities.

Dental offices using sedation must have an AED.

Related Laws

Statute Law Type Effective Date Abstract
CO Revised § 25-53-102 2019-05-22 Encourages public schools and people who own, operate, or manage a public place to place functional AEDs in sufficient quantities to ensure reasonable availability for use. Also states a public school or public place shall accept a donation of an AED and shall then maintain it according to manufacturer's maintenance schedule and adhere to AED training and installation requirements.
3 CCR 709-1 Other Requirements 2018-02-14 M. Office Facilities and Equipment for Provision of Minimal Sedation, Moderate Sedation, Deep Sedation and/or General Anesthesia 1. Any dentist whose practice includes the administration of minimal sedation by any anesthesia provider must provide the following office facilities and equipment, which are required to be functional at all times: a. Emergency equipment and facilities, including: i. An appropriate size bag-valve-mask apparatus or equivalent with an oxygen hook-up; ii. Oral and nasopharyngeal airways; iii. Appropriate emergency medications; and iv. An external defibrillator - manual or automatic. b. Equipment to monitor vital signs and oxygenation/ventilation, including: i. A continuous pulse oximeter; and ii. A blood pressure cuff of appropriate size and stethoscope, or equivalent blood pressure monitoring devices. c. Oxygen, suction, and a pulse oximeter must be immediately available during the recovery period. 2. Any dentist whose practice includes the administration of moderate sedation by any anesthesia provider must provide the following office facilities and equipment, which are required to be functional at all times: a. Emergency equipment and facilities, including: i. An appropriate size bag-valve-mask apparatus or equivalent with an oxygen hook-up; ii. Oral and nasopharyngeal airways; iii. Appropriate emergency medications; and iv. An external defibrillator - manual or automatic. b. Equipment to monitor vital signs and oxygenation/ventilation, including: i. A continuous pulse oximeter; and ii. A blood pressure cuff of appropriate size and stethoscope, or equivalent blood pressure monitoring devices. c. Oxygen, suction, and a pulse oximeter must be immediately available during the recovery period. d. Back-up suction equipment. e. Back-up lighting system. f. Parenteral access or the ability to gain parenteral access, if clinically indicated. g. Electrocardiograph, if clinically indicated. h. End-tidal carbon dioxide monitor (capnography) by July 1, 2016. 3. Any dentist whose practice includes the administration of deep sedation and/or general anesthesia by any anesthesia provider must provide the following office facilities and equipment, which are required to be functional at all times: a. Emergency equipment and facilities, including: i. An appropriate size bag-valve-mask apparatus or equivalent with an oxygen hook-up; ii. Oral and nasopharyngeal airways; iii. Appropriate emergency medications; and iv. An external defibrillator - manual or automatic. b. Equipment to monitor vital signs and oxygenation/ventilation, including: i. A continuous pulse oximeter; and ii. A blood pressure cuff of appropriate size and stethoscope, or equivalent blood pressure monitoring devices. c. Oxygen, suction, and a pulse oximeter must be immediately available during the recovery period. d. Back-up suction equipment. e. Back-up lighting system. f. Parenteral access or the ability to gain parenteral access, if clinically indicated. g. Electrocardiograph. h. End-tidal carbon dioxide monitor (capnography) by July 1, 2016. i. Additional emergency equipment and facilities, including: i. Endotracheal tubes suitable for patients being treated; ii. A laryngoscope with reserve batteries and bulbs, iii. Endotracheal tube forceps (i.e. magill); and iv. At least one additional airway device.
C.R.S.A. § 13-21-108.1 Good Samaritan; Training Requirement; Other Requirements; Physician Requirement; Registration Requirement 2017-02-14 The law limits civil liability under certain circumstances of use or an attempted use of an AED, including for the person or entity who provides the AED site placement/is responsible for the site where the AED is located; Requires those who acquire an AED to ensure expected AED users receive training; Requires the AED be maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines and that written records be maintained of this maintenance and testing; Requires a physician to review and approve written plans concerning the AED; Requires those who acquire AEDs to notify an agent of the applicable emergency communications or vehicle dispatch center of the existence, location, and type of AED.
C.R.S.A. § 22-1-125.5 Training Requirement 2015-07-09 No later than 1/1/2015, athletic program coaches employed by local education providers must be currently certified in CPR and have received instruction in the use of an AED.
C.R.S.A. § 22-1-125 Mandate The law requires public schools to accept donated automated external defibrillator for placement on its grounds. It also encourages schools to purchase AEDs.

We make every attempt to ensure the accuracy of our research regarding automated external defibrillator (AED) unit laws in each state across the country, however, with laws varying from state-to-state and even on a local basis, as you might imagine, staying abreast of constant changes is a very challenging process. As such, it's important to note that our findings should be used for informational purposes only and that any specific AED laws or AED requirements for your AED program should be developed between you and your legal counsel. If you have any suggestions, information, or tips on new or pending AED unit legislation that you feel might help improve our AED requirement pages, please contact us to let us know! By spreading knowledge about how to build and manage legally compliant AED programs, we hope to improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest.