
Marylanders suffer approximately 7,000 sudden cardiac arrests each year. These time-sensitive medical emergencies
demand immediate bystander action to achieve optimal outcomes. Survival rates are more than 4x greater when
bystanders begin CPR and apply an AED.
Maryland's Public Access AED Program aims to expand the availability of AEDs, thereby increasing
the chances of survival for those who experience sudden cardiac arrest. All AEDs in the State of Maryland should be
registered.
Questions on the Maryland Public Access AED Program may be directed to AED-Support@miemss.org or Phone: (410)
822-1799.
Why register an AED?
Maryland §13-517 requires that AEDs are registered with MIEMSS unless they are located in
healthcare settings (e.g., physician’s office) or deployed with public safety officials. AED registration helps to
facilitate the public access AED program by:
- Making the locations of AEDs known to 911 centers, who can then direct callers to the devices during emergency
situations;
- Providing contact information for AED owners so they can receive important notifications and updates;
- Enabling assessments of the impact of AEDs in specific locations to save lives; and
- Extending certain immunities from civil liability related to AED use.
About the registration process: Registering an AED
occurs in two steps:
First, register the facility. The facility is the name of the
business, organization, firm, or agency that owns the AED and is responsible for it.
- Go to the Maryland AED Registry and select "New AED Facilities Registration"
- Enter the name of the facility (name of company, business or organization);
- Enter the primary address of the facility; A single facility (e.g., company or business) may have multiple
locations, but only the primary location is needed at this step;
- Designate an AED coordinator; With an exception for restaurants and grocery stores,
coordinators must be trained in CPR and AED operation and will be responsible for ensuring ongoing AED
maintenance;
- After this information is submitted in the Registry, approval may
take up to two business days.
Second, register individual AEDs.
- After you receive an email with your AED Registry credentials, login to the Registry using those
credentials;
- Once logged in, register one or more AEDs;
- Add one or more sites that are affiliated with the primary facility, as needed;
- After submitting the AED and site information, you will be able to download a registration certificate for each
AED.
Information for specific facilities:
Restaurants:
As of January 1, 2025, restaurants that meet certain income and size
critera must have an AED in a location that is accessible to the employees and customers.
Criteria for Restaurants include:
- The restaurant's annual gross income is more than $1,000,000, exclusive of sales for off-premises
consumption, and
- The restaurant has a seating capacity of more than 100 individuals.
- Restaurants must have a designated AED coordinator, however, that individual does not require
training.
The Restaurant AED coordinator
is responsible for:
- Implementing and administering the AED program at the registered facility, ensuring monthly safety
inspections of all AEDs, including assurance of adequate battery charge to manufacturer's specifications and
maintaining written logs of the inspections.
- Providing facility AED operation, maintenance, and location details to the registered facility's employees.
Placing AED(s) in visible and easily accessible locations for all persons willing and able to operate the
AED.
- Provide and maintain convenient communications options (e.g., telephone) for alerting 911 upon operation of
each AED.
- Reporting each use of the AED to MIEMSS.
- Submitting data or other information concerning the AED as requested by MIEMSS.
Grocery stores, as of January 1, 2025, that meet certain income and size criteria must have an
AED in a location that is accessible to the employees and customers.
Criteria for Grocery
Stores include:
- A grocery store that has all major food departments, including produce, meat, seafood, dairy, and canned and
packaged goods; or
- at least one of the major food departments and at least 12,000 square feet of floor space;
and has an annual gross income of more than $10,000,000
- Grocery stores must have a designated AED coordinator, however, that individual does not require
training.
The Grocery Store AED coordinator
is responsible for:
- Implementing and administering the AED program at the registered facility, ensuring monthly safety
inspections of all AEDs, including assurance of adequate battery charge to manufacturer's specifications and
maintaining written logs of the inspections.
- Providing facility AED operation, maintenance, and location details to the registered facility's employees.
Placing AED(s) in visible and easily accessible locations for all persons willing and able to operate the
AED.
- Provide and maintain convenient communications options (e.g., telephone) for alerting 911 upon operation of
each AED.
- Reporting each use of the AED to MIEMSS.
- Submitting data or other information concerning the AED as requested by MIEMSS.
Public Schools:
Every public middle and high
school in Maryland must have an AED that is registered and accessible to the public. Schools are required to have an
AED coordinator who is trained in CPR and AED use. If the school has a pool, the requirements described in the
AEDs for Public/Municipal Pools and Spas section, below, may be
applicable.
The School AED Coordinator is
responsible for:
- Implementing and administering the AED program at the registered facility, ensuring monthly safety
inspections of all AEDs, including assurance of adequate battery charge to manufacturer's specifications and
maintaining written logs of the inspections.
- Providing facility AED operation, maintenance, and location details to the registered facility's staff.
Placing AED(s) in visible and easily accessible locations for all persons willing and able to operate the
AED.
- Provide and maintain convenient communications options (e.g., telephone) for alerting 911 upon operation of
each AED.
- Reporting each use of the AED to MIEMSS.
- Submitting data or other information concerning the AED as requested by MIEMSS.
AED Coordinators must complete CPR and AED training consistent with the most current American Heart Association
guidelines.
CPR & AED training programs are often available through local Emergency Medical Services (EMS), hopitals and
businesses. To find CPR & AED training courses in your area, you may visit the following:
Swimming Pools:
Each swimming pool owned and operated by a county or municipality is required to have an AED that is registered
and accessible by the patrons. Pools are required to have a coordinator who is trained in CPR and AED use.
The facility AED coordinator is responsible for:
- Implementing and administering the AED program at the registered facility, ensuring monthly safety
inspections of all AEDs, including assurance of adequate battery charge to manufacturer's specifications and
maintaining written logs of the inspections.
- Providing facility AED operation, maintenance, and location details to the registered facility's employees.
Placing AED(s) in visible and easily accessible locations for all persons willing and able to operate the
AED.
- Provide and maintain convenient communications options (e.g., telephone) for alerting 911 upon operation of
each AED.
- Reporting each use of the AED to MIEMSS.
- Submitting data or other information concerning the AED as requested by MIEMSS.
AED Coordinators must complete CPR and AED training consistent with the most current American Heart Association
guidelines.
CPR & AED training programs are often available through local Emergency Medical Services (EMS), hopitals and
businesses. To find CPR & AED training courses in your area, you may visit the following:
Other Facilities: AEDs may be registered to any business or organization where people may be
likely to visit or gather. An AED Coordinator who is trained in CPR and AED use is required.
The facility AED coordinator is responsible
for:
- Implementing and administering the AED program at the registered facility, ensuring monthly safety
inspections of all AEDs, including assurance of adequate battery charge to manufacturer's specifications and
maintaining written logs of the inspections.
- Providing facility AED operation, maintenance, and location details to the registered facility's employees.
Placing AED(s) in visible and easily accessible locations for all persons willing and able to operate the
AED.
- Provide and maintain convenient communications options (e.g., telephone) for alerting 911 upon operation of
each AED.
- Reporting each use of the AED to MIEMSS.
- Submitting data or other information concerning the AED as requested by MIEMSS.
AED Coordinators must complete CPR and AED training consistent with the most current American Heart Association
guidelines.
CPR & AED training programs are often available through local Emergency Medical Services (EMS), hopitals and
businesses. To find CPR & AED training courses in your area, you may visit the following: