Vermont

Vermont requires AED programs to keep up with maintenance and AED placement reporting requirements. The Good Samaritan law protects AED owners, AED users, and CPR/AED trainers. Unfortunately, AED program medical directors are not covered by this law, but a large range of AED program activities appear to be covered. Immunity to the law is not determined from compliance with specified administrative and operational requirements. Vermont does not require AEDs to be placed in any specific locations.

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Vermont Law Key Takeaways

Requirement Summary
Good Samaritan Law Any person, other than a person defined as a health care provider... by subdivision 9432(8) of this title or as emergency medical personnel by 24 V.S.A. § 2651(6) acting in the normal course of his or her duties as a health care provider or as emergency medical personnel, who acts in good faith and who renders emergency care by the use of an AED, acquires an AED, owns a premises on which an AED is located, or provides a training course in the operation of an AED shall not be liable for civil damages for that person's acts or omissions with respect to such use, ownership, or training in the operation of an AED.
EMS Notification Any person who owns or leases an AED must notify Local EMS regarding the type and location of the AED.
AED Maintenance Any person who owns or leases an AED must maintain and test the device in accordance with the applicable standards of the manufacturer.

Vermont Statutes and Regulations

*Vermont Statutes -- 18 V.S.A. § 907. Automated external defibrillators.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Automated external defibrillator (AED)” means a medical device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, that:

(A) is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia;

(B) is capable of determining whether defibrillation should be performed on an individual;

(C) upon determination that defibrillation should be performed, automatically charges and requests delivery of an electrical impulse to an individual's heart; and

(D) then, upon action by an operator, delivers an appropriate electrical impulse to the patient's heart to perform defibrillation.

(b) [Deleted].

(c) Any person who owns or leases an AED, or to whom an AED is donated shall:

(1) notify the department and the person's regional ambulance service or first responder service of the existence, location, and type of device the person possesses; and

(2) maintain and test the device in accordance with the applicable standards of the manufacturer.

(d)(1) Any person, other than a person defined as a health care provider by subdivision 9432(8) of this title or as emergency medical personnel by 24 V.S.A. § 2651(6) acting in the normal course of his or her duties as a health care provider or as emergency medical personnel, who acts in good faith and who renders emergency care by the use of an AED, acquires an AED, owns a premises on which an AED is located, or provides a training course in the operation of an AED shall not be liable for civil damages for that person's acts or omissions with respect to such use, ownership, or training in the operation of an AED unless those acts or omissions were grossly negligent or willful and wanton. As used in this subdivision (d)(1), “ownership” shall not include the maintenance and testing of the device in accordance with the applicable standards of the manufacturer as required by subdivision (c)(2) of this section.

(2) This subsection shall not relieve an AED manufacturer, designer, developer, distributor, installer, or seller of any liability under any applicable statute or rule of law.

(e) This section shall not be construed to create a duty to act under 12 V.S.A. § 519 for any person.

*Codes and regulations cited from Justia US Law.

Note: The information on this page is intended to educate readers on the general topic of AEDs and AED legislation. FC Safety.com does not guarantee completeness or accuracy of any AED law interpretation, summary, or listing. This information is intended to be a summary of general facts and not legal advice. For assistance interpreting and determining AED law compliance in your state, please contact us.