Related Documents

Applies To: Departments with AED units already in place or departments considering purchasing them

This Program is issued jointly by the Environment, Health & Safety Department, the Chief Health Officer, and the Office of Risk Management to provide minimum standards for guidance and consistency in management of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device programs for the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus.   The regional campuses are encouraged to use this document as a reference and for consistency.

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Program has been developed to provide guidance for the selection, placement, use, and maintenance of AED units for departments at the University of Michigan. The use of an AED is one step in the process toward improving survival rates for victims of sudden cardiac arrest.

According to the American Red Cross each year in the United States over 350,000 people suffer an out of hospital sudden cardiac arrest.  A person’s chance of survival can be increased by establishing a Chain of Survival system that includes early recognition, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), early defibrillation, and access to advanced cardiac life support by emergency medical services (EMS) and medical facilities. The effectiveness in increasing patient survival through the use of AEDs has been documented by organizations such as the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Currently, there are over 500 AED units available across the campus, including the Department of Public Safety & Security (DPSS) patrol vehicles, all Athletic and Recreational Sports venues, performance venues, F&O High Voltage Utility vehicles, student housing, and most campus buildings. See Appendix A for the list of AED locations for the Ann Arbor campus.

The scope of this Program includes:

• Departments with AED units already in place, or
• Departments considering purchasing them.

Patient care areas are not covered by this Program. The placement of AED units in general University buildings is not a requirement, with the exception of facilities required to meet specific rules or regulations based on their operation. This Program is not considered to be an endorsement for departments to purchase AED units.

Reference Regulations: #

• American Heart Association’s 2020 Guidelines for CPR and AED use.
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates and recalls defective AED units as medical devices.
• Medical Emergencies in Health Clubs, Michigan Act 23 of 2006, regulates the use of AED units in health clubs in Michigan with respect to potential medical emergencies; and to provide for civil sanctions.
• Michigan Public Act 173, an Expanded Good Samaritan Law, provides immunity from civil liability to anyone using an AED on a victim of sudden cardiac arrest.
• Federal Public Health Improvement Act, Public Law 106-505 (November 13, 2000). Subtitle A of Title IV of the Act, the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2000, amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for placement of AEDs in Federal buildings to improve survival rates of cardiac arrest victims, and to establish protection from civil liability from the use of the devices.