New Ontario Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) Law - HeartSafe

AED Regulations & Legislation

Bill 141, the Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act tabled by Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Robin Martin, allows 911 communications officers to direct callers to the nearest Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device when a cardiac arrest is suspected. The Bill has passed third reading and received royal assent.

The law will create an AED registry, which, among other things, will ensure the locations of publicly accessible defibrillators are made available to 911 dispatchers, allowing them to direct callers to a nearby AED.

AED Requirements

The law also establishes requirements for:

AED installation
AED device maintenance
AED testing
AED training
Availability of defibrillators in public places.

It also requires that AEDs have appropriate signage, be accessible for easy identification, and be maintained properly.

Bill 141 Regulates 6 Key Areas of
AED Public Access:

1

AEDs must be placed in designated premises (Effective date not established as of writing)

1

AEDs must be easily accessible

1

AEDs must have appropriate signage

1

AEDs must be registered with 911/Registry (Effective date not established as of writing)

1

AEDs must be properly maintained & ready for use

1

AED training is required

Overall, the Bill requires the owners of designated public places to install, make available for use, maintain and test defibrillators on their premises. The Bill also provides for the registration of defibrillators with a registrar to be designated by the Minister. The registrar is required to notify emergency service providers and others of the registration, including the specific location of a defibrillator. Owners must also ensure that training is undertaken in accordance with prescribed guidelines.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is an AED?

The acronym AED stands for an automatic external defibrillator. An AED is a specialized device which is used to detect an abnormal life threatening heart rhythm, during a sudden cardiac arrest and then provide a shock to restore the heart rhythm back to normal.

Is a heart attack and a sudden cardiac arrest the same thing?

No, a heart attack is a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries on the surface of the heart. This blockage decrease blood flow to the heart muscle but the person may be conscious and alert. They may complain of things like chest pain, pressure or discomfort and feel unwell. A sudden cardiac can be caused by a variety of underlying problems and the person experiences unconsciousness suddenly and stops breathing normally. Immediate treatment is required to prevent sudden death.

Does an AED machine have detailed fool proof step-by-step instructions?

AED’s are user-friendly devices. They are very intuitive and can save the life of someone whose heart stops. An AED gives you step-by-step voice and visual instructions. They won’t go to the next step until you have completed the previous step. Its sequence is clearly diagrammed and reassuring to rescuers who are inexperienced with medical emergencies. AEDs will not allow a shock to be given unless a person is truly in cardiac arrest, making it close to foolproof. You can’t shock a person who doesn’t need it, even if you wanted to. As long as you don’t forget to turn the device on, it’s very easy to use.

Can an AED be used on a person with a pacemaker ?

Yes. It is all right to use an AED on a person with an implanted device such as a pacemaker or ICD, but do not place the pads directly over the implant. You can tell where an implant is located by a lump in the skin and a scar.

Can an AED be used on children?

Yes. The AED can be used on children. For children less than 8 years old the AED should use a child dose system. Child AED pads can be used to deliver a child dose.