Understanding Ohio’s AED Access Laws

What is the “Smart Heart Act”?

Everything you need to know about Ohio’s AED Access Law.

Ohio’s HB 47, approved by Governor DeWine on July 23, 2024, requires the placement of at least one automatic external defibrillator (AEDs) in all public schools, chartered nonpublic schools, and public recreational facilities. Each municipal sports and recreation location, except in townships and villages with populations less than 5,000, will need an AED present.

School districts are also required to incorporate CPR/AED training for teachers, principals, administrative employees, coaches, athletic trainers, supervisors of  interscholastic athletics, and all other key employees subject to the requirements to the law. 

Additionally, the Ohio Department of Health must develop a model emergency action plan to help organizations formulate their own. Prior to each athletic season, youth sports organizations must hold an informative meeting for youth athletes, parents, and guardians which details their emergency action plan and highlights the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) for all ages of youth athletes. 

Finally, each student and youth athlete, before participating in athletic activity, must submit a signed form indicating review of SCA guidelines. They should be evaluated and cleared by health professionals before participating if there is family history of SCA or known to exhibit syncope or fainting at any time before, or during, athletic activity. If there are signs during the activity, the coach must remove the individual until evaluated and cleared by a health professional.

What to Know

OHIO HOUSE BILL 47

An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is a portable device used during cardiac arrest to deliver an electric shock to the heart that can temporarily restart the heart and restore breathing. 

According to the American Heart Association, 9 in 10 cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an AED in the first minutes survive. But for every minute that passes without defibrillation, survival rates drop 7-10% percent.

AEDs are designed to be used by bystanders with little or no medical training, giving audio and/or visual instructions that guide the user through each step. AEDs are safe to use and cannot hurt the victim or rescuer. It will only provide a shock to the victim if one is needed.

In a cardiac emergency, the most impactful people are the immediate bystanders. By the time EMS arrives on the scene, if no lifesaving interventions have been done, the victim’s chance of survival is very low.

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone. It’s not just something that affects the elderly or unhealthy people. Studies have shown that 1 in 300 youth athletes have an undiagnosed heart condition. Being prepared for a cardiac emergency protects not just the students or athletes but also the coaches, faculty, parents, and spectators who might be in the stands.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving procedure that continues circulation of the blood when someone’s heart stops beating. Regular CPR and AED training gives an individual knowledge and confidence to recognize the symptoms of a sudden cardiac arrest and the confidence to respond quickly and effectively. Performing CPR, locating the closest AED, and using the device correctly in those few short minutes before emergency medical professionals arrive can double or even triple the victim’s chance of survival.

The bill requires the controlling authorities of municipal sports and recreation locations to place at least one AED at all school districts, community schools, STEM schools, college-preparatory boarding schools, and chartered nonpublic schools that are under their control.

Each controlling authority must have a sufficient number of staff persons at each sports and recreation location a certification in the use of AEDs and adopt an emergency action plan for their use.

The bill defines “sports and recreation location” as indoor recreation centers and facilities, gymnasiums, swimming pools, and playing fields that are designated, operated, and maintained under law that authorizes municipal corporations, townships, and counties to create boards to supervise and maintain parks, playgrounds, playfields, gymnasiums, public baths, swimming pools, or indoor recreation centers.

The “athletic activity” the bill defines are interscholastic athletics, an athletic contest or competition that is sponsored by or associated with a school. This includes practices, interschool practices, scrimmages, cheerleading, noncompetitive cheerleading that is sponsored by school-affiliated organizations, club-sponsored sports activities, and sports activities sponsored by school-affiliated organizations.

While the bill doesn’t specify the number of AEDs present, it does require at least one in every school building for public schools, one in each facility for chartered nonpublic schools, access during all organized sports activities, and at each facility for recreational, except with populations under 5,000.

The AHA recommends AEDs to be in nearby locations where they can be retrieved and applied to a victim within 3 minutes of collapse.

Ohio’s HB 47 mandates the placement should be kept visible, accessible, and incorporated in the emergency action plan.

While the bill doesn’t specify the locations, AEDs are typically housed in wall-mounted enclosures designed for rapid access in an emergency. These cabinets keep the device visible, protected, and ready for immediate use. The organizations should account for regular inspection and maintenance of their AEDs in order to ensure they are operable in the event of an emergency.

For outdoor facilities, placement requires additional consideration. Exposure to weather, temperature extremes, moisture, dust, and pollen can damage an AED over time and compromise its reliability when it matters most. In some outdoor areas, theft and tampering can also be concerns.

Solutions exist to address all of these challenges — from weatherproof enclosures with heat/cooling systems to resist the elements, to 911-integrated “secure access” cabinets that are only unlocked with a code issued by emergency dispatchers — which ensure that your devices remain protected, compliant, and ready at a moment’s notice.

For travel sports teams or outdoor adventure organizations mobile kits can be effective alternatives to permanent AED placements. These kits store AEDs in portable, weatherproof cases that can be easily brought everywhere the group goes.

It was signed by Governor DeWine on July 23, 2024, and took effect on October 24, 2024. While the law does not specify an exact deadline, it requires schools to be in compliance by the start of the academic year in 2025.

The average cost of an AED will be about $1,500 more or less because it does not include the costs for maintenance, accessories, or staff training. The amount of public sports and recreation locations that will need multiple AEDs is uncertain which is why the costs can vary.

360,000+

Out-of-Hospital Sudden Cardiac Arrests in the US each year

~20%

of Cardiac Arrests Occur in Public Settings

2-3x

Increased Survival Rates with Early Access to Defibrillation

Damar Hamlin’s Story

In January of 2023, during a Monday Night Football showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, millions watched in disbelief as Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed unresponsive after a seemingly routine tackle. The stadium fell silent as paramedics rushed to his side and worried players, from both teams, stood in shock waiting for him to recover. The medics performed CPR for over 9 minutes before his heart was restored with an AED and he was then taken to a hospital. The game officially ended prematurely by the NFL, for the first time in history, as a result of the emergency.

Despite having no prior history of a heart condition, Hamlin had suffered a rare sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) called commotio cordis.This occurs when a sudden blunt impact to the chest, at a precise 10 to 30-millisecond window during the heartbeat cycle, can disrupt the heart’s electrical signals, stopping the heart. Thankfully, due in large part to the efforts of the team, medical staff, and the availability of an AED, Damar Hamlin has since made a full recovery and an inspiring return to football.

Inspired by his experience, Hamlin founded The Chasing M’s Foundation which travels across the country providing CPR training and expanding access to AEDs. The Smart Heart Sports Coalition was also formed, in partnership with numerous sports organizations, in order to advance legislation across the country to help prevent fatal SCA outcomes in students and student athletes.

Hamlin and the coalition are just a few of the many organizations that threw their weight behind Ohio’s HB 47. The landmark legislation passed unanimously in both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly with Governor Mike DeWine signing the bill into law on July 23, 2024 and taking effect October 24, 2024.

Ohio raised the bar. We can help you meet it.

Contact one of our expert consultants to help you find the best fit for your community.

Nurse Owned and Operated
Protecting Hearts Across 43 States
Proudly Based in Roanoke, VA
Contact Us