West Virginia

AEDs are required in all underground and surface mines, and devices must be present at all school athletic events to better protect student athletes from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Extensive Good Samaritan protections encourage the use of these devices in public.

Continue scrolling to view a full list of West Virginia’s AED requirements.

Summary of Requirements

Physician

A medical director must be designated as the coordinator of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program which should include training, coordination with local EMS, AED deployment strategy, and reviewing all operations of an AED.

CPR/AED Training

The person who will be operating the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) must receive the appropriate training in CPR and the operation of an AED by the directive of the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, and any other nationally recognized or approved program by the Office of Emergency Medical Services.

EMS Notification

Any person that chooses to own and begins a defibrillation program needs to register the program with the Office of Emergency Medical Services which identifies the placement of AEDs, training of anticipated operators, pre-planned EMS coordination, designation of a medical director, maintenance for AED, and reports of utilization. They must also notify local EMS or other appropriate emergency dispatch centers of the location of the AED and the plan for coordination.

Maintenance Program

The owner of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) must maintain and test the AED with a regular schedule in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Notification of Use

When the owner of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) uses the unit for emergency or treatment care, EMS must be activated as soon as possible and reported on the use of the AED through the program medical director.

Good Samaritan Protection

Rescuer

Purchaser

Property owner

Physician

Trainer

WV Code § 16-4D-4

Provides Good Samaritan protection for use of an AED and establishes guidelines for AED programs.

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Laws / Legislation

WV Code § 18-2-25c

Requires Automated External Defibrillators and trained personnel at school athletic events and practices, effective by the 2021-2022 school year.

WV Code § 22-1-3 & 22-3-4

AEDs are required at underground mines and surface mines.

WV Code § 30-4A-(4-7)

Outlines AED requirements for dental offices.

WV Code § 16-4D-1

The West Virginia Legislature hereby finds and declares that each year more than two hundred fifty thousand Americans die from out-of-hospital incidents of sudden cardiac arrest. More than ninety-five percent of these incidents result in death and, in many cases, death occurs because properly trained persons with life-saving AEDs arrive at the scene too late.