As of January, California law requires all health studios, personal training studios, traveling personal trainers/pilates instructors, etc. to have an Automated External Defibrillator or AED. I’m not sure what the laws are in other states or Canada, but you might want to check.
We just had our team AED trained as well as have our AED registered and activated yesterday. Interesting (maybe) California-style red tape: It is a requirement by the State of California to own one if you own any type of training studio, yet you cannot purchase one without Medical directive. Meaning you need an MD to basically sign off and prescribe one to you!
We were contacted by someone in Southern California who was selling AED’s to CrossFit Affiliates. He included several letters of recommendation from affiliates in the SoCal region as well as informed me of the new requirement. So, I bought one (Pricey little buggars). Come to find out when I call our local AED training center it was illegal for me to purchase it this way (and more importantly illegal for the guy selling it to me!) Any person can go into Costco and buy one for personal use, but businesses must go via the Medical directive route. If you have one in your facility and you do not have Medical directive and it is not registered with the local EMS you are in violation of California code and it is as if you don’t have one at all!
She also relayed the example of a local pilates woman who doesn’t own a studio, but travels to people’s homes to provide private pilates training. This woman is also required not only to have an AED, but bring it into her client’s homes on each and every session. Pain in the ass? That’s some of the beauty of doing business in California☺
However, we did learn that CPR is only about 5-10% effective at saving someone’s life whereas using an AED is about 70% effective. Good numbers. Oh and apparently California budget cuts have led to longer response times from EMS…whereas the typical response time is 5-10 minutes our instructor informed us we are likely to see 20-30 minute response times in areas of California. Also, they closed Poison Control due to budget constraints so we are likely to get a busy signal if we call 911! Good grief!
Alas, we had a fabulous training by a woman from our training center here in town and we are all dialed in. Turns out you can purchase Medical directive retroactively. And, at least the model I was sold is one of the nicer ones!
CrossFit is also a sport. Question: are sports coaches (little league, etc.) required to have AEDs?
Not sure on the little league coaches. There may be some gray area there. Here is the part of the California Code that defines who needs one:
Civil Code
1812.81. As used in this title, “contract for health studio
services” means a contract for instruction, training or assistance in
physical culture, body building, exercising, reducing, figure
development, or any other such physical skill, or for the use by an
individual patron of the facilities of a health studio, gymnasium or
other facility used for any of the above purposes, or for membership
in any group, club, association or organization formed for any of the
above purposes; but does not include (a) contracts for professional
services rendered or furnished by a person licensed under the
provisions of Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the
Business and Professions Code, (b) contracts for instruction at
schools operating pursuant to the provisions of the Education Code,
or (c) contracts for instruction, training, or assistance relating to
diet or control of eating habits not involving physical culture,
body building, exercising, figure development, or any other such
physical skill.
As much as I dislike the mandate to require having one and being able to use it, it’s probably a very good thing to have around.
Any one have any details on where this CA law may be written? The civil code above has nothing to do with AEDs being required by health clubs, etc. its basically a contract law designed to protect consumers on wording in contracts. The only law I found on a CA.GOV website appears to be about regulated use, not anything about requiring a certain type of business to have one. Unfortunately it seem like Nicki was a target of a salesman’s scam.
Hi Terry,
I do believe the salesman who sold me my AED was a bit on the shifty side. That said, the woman who trained our staff in the AED did confirm that it is a CA law. Here is a brochure stating as much.
Hi,
I just read this…. and now am really nervous. I have a home gym where I train personal clients and I bought an AED from a reputable online AED organization. Is there a way to backtrack and get this authorized?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Hi Corey,
I would call your local CPR/AED training center and ask them what you should do. They may be able to help you get medical directive.