Since the advent of AED's as a portable, effective, publicly available machine capable of restoring a regular heartbeat during a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the reasons for corporations and small businesses to obtain one continues to grow. The bottom line is that AED's save lives and their demonstrated ability to significantly reduce cardiac death statistics has earned the attention of Americas' corporations and courts.

Growing Requirements

State laws requiring AED's in business locations vary throughout the Republic, but more and more legislatures and courts are ruling in favor of businesses obtaining the life-saving devices, motivated, undoubtedly, by an interest in citizen safety and little concern for the small cost and training requirements businesses must conjure in order to comply.

In Florida, the Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA) instituted the BOMA

360 Performance Program as a groundbreaking program designed to recognize and validate commercial properties that demonstrate the best practices for building management and general operations. In order to receive certification from the influential organization applicants must achieve the required number of points and one of the requirements is a copy of the AED Policy or PAD program training guide.

The Oregon senate lent further defibrillation motivation to businesses in its state, making the possession of an AED on-site for businesses of a certain size and popularity a law. According to Senate Bill 1006, “The owner of a place of public assembly shall have on the premises at least one automated external defibrillator.” The bill further defines a “place of public assembly as a building that has 50,000 square feet of indoor floor space, or where the public congregates for purposes such as deliberation, shopping, entertainment, amusement, or awaiting transportation; or where business activities are conducted and at least 50 individuals congregate on a normal business day.

Legal Movements

Even apart from local state and industry laws, applicable legal precedents are stacking up in favor or businesses being liable for not having an AED, a scary position for proprietors facing a health epidemic that can strike anyone at anytime.

Business sectors including common carriers like airlines, railroad, and cruise ships, as well as hotels and businesses open to the public (a broad, encompassing designation) may be compelled by law to render a minimum level of first aid care apart from EMS responders. However, the scope of what constitutes a minimum level of care has been primarily defined by appellate court case law, trial courts, and juries, and while these have been generally hesitant to require common carriers, innkeepers, and the like to take more action than calling an ambulance, two recent trials have included decisions in favor of higher standards regarding customer safety in the commercial business environment.

Prudent businesses can avoid any legal risk by purchasing AED's and training employees in their use.

Always A Good Choice

Aside from other influences that may interest businesses in acquiring an AED policy, another reason remains: they save lives. The chances of surviving cardiac arrest without receiving defibrillation within the first 10 minutes hover around 5%. Not only that, but the rate of survival diminishes by 10% for every minute that a cardiac victim waits, with very few survivors statistically after the ten minute mark. When defibrillation is provided by an AED or emergency medical responders within the first few minutes, the survival rates climbs dramatically to almost 75%.

As with many legal guidelines, the requirements exist for a reason and many businesses, regardless of the applicable AED mandates in their region or profession, may want to obtain an AED simply because they can, and by doing so, may be able to save a life.

Where to Find Business Packages

A number of online retailers are available that offer specially priced business packages, such as AED-Shop (www.aed-shop.com) - a full service Automated External Defibrillator (AED), safety training, and emergency preparedness company.

AED-SHOP.COM has created a Business AED Package for any Business organization to implement an AED Program. Comprehensive business packages compile the necessary ingredients into a convenient form, and include all the components your organization needs: an Automated External Defibrillator, a set of adult pads (electrodes), a carrying case, a CPR ready kit, sign, an inspection sticker, a window sticker, a cabinet option, even a battery.

When selecting a business package just be sure you get one approved by the American Heart Association (AHA) that fits your business needs.