Maine AED Laws

State laws pertaining to AEDs and defibrillators in the state of Maine can all be readily found below.

If you're wanting to ensure your AED program is fully compliant with the state law of Maine, please be sure to review our AED Concierge Service. The program acts as the medical direction and oversight for your AED program, ensuring your AED is ready to save a life when needed, you're fully compliant with all state and federal laws and codes, and that liability is kept to an absolute minimum.

Have questions regarding the AED and defibrillator laws in Maine? Let us know! Any one of our team members will be more than happy to assist you in the development and support of your AED program.

MAINE AED AND DEFIBRILLATOR LAWS

22 Maine Revised Statutes § 2150-C

Automated external defibrillators; immunity from civil liability.

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings:

A. ”Automated external defibrillator” or “AED” means a medical device that combines a heart monitor and a defibrillator approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration that:

(1) Is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia;

(2) Is capable of determining, without intervention by an operator, whether defibrillation should be performed on an individual; and

(3) Upon determination that defibrillation should be performed, automatically charges and requests delivery of an electrical impulse to an individual’s heart.

6. Immunity. The following persons and entities are immune from civil liability for damages relating to the use, possession or purchase of an AED and arising out of acts or omissions relating to preparing for and responding to suspected sudden cardiac arrest emergencies absent gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct:

A. Any person or entity that acquires an AED;

B. Any person or entity that owns, manages or is otherwise responsible for the premises on which an AED is located;

C. Any person who retrieves an AED in response to a perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergency;

D. Any person who uses, attempts to use or fails to use an AED in response to a perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergency;

E. Any physician or other authorized person who issues a prescription for the purchase of an AED;

F. Any person or entity that is involved with the design, management or operation of an AED program; and

G. Any person or entity that provides instruction in the use of an AED.

14 Maine Revised Statutes § 164

Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of any public or private and special law, any person who voluntarily, without the expectation of monetary or other compensation from the person aided or treated, renders first aid, emergency treatment or rescue assistance to a person who is unconscious, ill, injured or in need of rescue assistance, shall not be liable for damages for injuries alleged to have been sustained by such person nor for damages for the death of such person alleged to have occurred by reason of an act or omission in the rendering of such first aid, emergency treatment or rescue assistance, unless it is established that such injuries or such death were caused willfully, wantonly or recklessly or by gross negligence on the part of such person. This section shall apply to members or employees of nonprofit volunteer or governmental ambulance, rescue or emergency units, whether or not a user or service fee may be charged by the nonprofit unit or the governmental entity and whether or not the members or employees receive salaries or other compensation from the nonprofit unit or the governmental entity. This section shall not be construed to require a person who is ill or injured to be administered first aid or emergency treatment if such person objects thereto on religious grounds. This section shall not apply if such first aid or emergency treatment or assistance is rendered on the premises of a hospital or clinic.

20-A Maine Revised Statutes §6304

Automated external defibrillators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation:

School boards may place automated external defibrillators in occupied school buildings and at school athletic events. School personnel and members of the public may receive training on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use automated external defibrillators in order to acquire the skills and confidence to respond to emergencies.