Public Access Automatic Defibrillation Program Development

Every year about 220,000 people suffer cardiac arrest and only about 5 percent of them survive.  Cardiac arrest is a condition in which abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias cause the heart’s electrical impulses to suddenly become chaotic.  When this happens, the heart stops abruptly, and the victim collapses and quickly loses consciousness.  Death usually follows unless a normal heart rhythm is restored within a few minutes.  Defibrillation, which means delivering an electric shock to the heart, is the only known treatment to restore the normal rhythm.  For every minute defibrillation is delayed, the victim’s chances of survival go down 7-10 percent.

This Agency believes that access to early defibrillation is the key to survival and encourages training in the recognition of a cardiac emergency and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to shock the heart into a regular rhythm.

Health Studios AED Programs: CA State Law Requirements Presentation (posted 5/2/2007)

Download the Public Access Defibrillation Program Packet (updated 1/28/2009)

Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) AED Site Notification (updated 1/28/2009)

Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Provider Application Form (updated 1/28/2009)

Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) AED Use Notification (updated 1/28/09)

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