Public Training in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Public Access Defibrillation

Revised and approved by the ACEP Board of Directors January 2006
This policy statement was originally approved by the ACEP Board of Directors April 1984, titled "Public Training in CPR" and  was revised and approved by the ACEP Board of Directors October 1994. The original policy statement was replaced September 1999 by the policy statement titled "Public Training in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Public Access Defibrillation." 

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) supports and strongly encourages cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for the lay public. This training should be short, easy to understand, and easy to remember. CPR courses should be readily available in every locale.

Several CPR training programs for the public include training in the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Public access defibrillation, the use of AEDs by laypersons on victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, has been endorsed by members of the medical profession and advocacy groups. ACEP strongly recommends that communities which implement public access defibrillation programs ensure that such programs are integrated and coordinated with existing emergency medical service (EMS) systems as follows:

• EMS systems must be notified of the location of AEDs at the time they are deployed.
• Each use of an AED by a layperson should be accompanied by simultaneous activation of the EMS system to ensure timely provision of advanced life support and transport to an emergency medical facility.
• Standards for appropriate training, equipment maintenance, and ongoing monitoring of quality of care and outcomes must be established in conjunction with local medical control authorities.
• Legislation should provide liability protection for all parties involved in the use of an AED by a layperson including the individual who uses the AED, the entity that purchases or provides the AED, the entity that provides training for the use of the AED, and the medical professionals providing oversight to the layperson.

ACEP endorses the support of further research to determine the effectiveness of public access to AEDs used by laypersons.