Politics & Government
San Bruno CA: Senator Hill's SB 658 Update
SB 658 Will Reduce Liability Barriers and Lead to More AEDs in Public and Private Buildings
Jerry Hill’s Bill To Expand The Availability of Life-Saving AEDs Is On Governor’s Desk After Unanimous Passage By State Senate
SB 658 Will Reduce Liability Barriers and Lead to More AEDs in Public and Private Buildings
SACRAMENTO – The California Senate today unanimously approved and sent to the governor legislation by state Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, that will increase access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) by reducing liability concerns about the devices that are the most effective way to save heart attack victims.
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Senate Bill 658, which passed out of the Senate on a bipartisan 34-0 vote, streamlines state requirements that commercial building owners and public schools need to follow to been immune from liability if they have AEDs on their property.
The liability requirements in existing law from the 1990’s were based on older AED technologies that didn’t have voice commands, pre-connected shock pads, long-lasting batteries, or voice-command CPR coaching. The new generation of AEDs are so simple and user-friendly that nearly anyone can successfully administer them without training or practice. They even have a built in computer that monitors the heart rhythm of the cardiac arrest victim to determine if a shock should be administered.
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Under current law, good Samaritans are protected against civil liability if they cause harm while using an AED. But facilities like schools, office buildings, stadiums and shopping malls that have AEDs are only guaranteed such protections under certain conditions, including costly training and medical oversight requirements.
SB 658 modernizes the outdated requirements with more basic safeguards such as battery checks, AED maintenance, AED location notification for building tenants, posting of instructions next to the device, and an annual demonstration for building tenants.
Sudden cardiac arrest kills nearly 1,000 people per day in the United States. Only 10 percent of victims who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting survive. The average response time for a 911 call is 8-12 minutes. Each minute defibrillation is delayed a person’s chance of survival is reduced about 10%.
According to the National Institutes of Health, “Learning how to use an AED and taking a CPR course are helpful. However, if trained personnel aren’t available, untrained people also can use an AED to help save someone’s life.”
A study by Johns Hopkins University found that Good Samaritan access to AEDs doubles survival from sudden heart attack.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, there have been no reports of AEDs harming users or bystanders.
The Red Cross supports the bill saying, “Currently, building owners must meet onerous requirements in order to satisfy liability exemptions…”
“Red Cross supports the bill because it streamlines and updates certain requirements governing AED placement.” “By encouraging the placement of AEDs in buildings, we can save lives.”
SB 658 is supported by 25 organizations including: American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Association of California Healthcare Districts, Building Owners and Managers Association of California, California Ambulance Association, California Apartment Association, California Business Properties Association, California Chamber of Commerce, California Hospital Association, California Retailers Association, California State Firefighters’ Association, California State Sheriffs’ Association, Commercial Real Estate Development Association, NAIOP of California, Civil Justice Association of California, El Camino Hospital, International Council of Shopping Centers, League of California Cities, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Philips, Pulse Point Foundation, Racing Hearts Foundation, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Santa Clara County Fire Chiefs’ Association, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and Stanford Health Care.
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Nate Solov
Office of Senator Jerry Hill
916-651-4013
News Release - Office of State Senator Jerry Hill – August 27, 2015
Contact: Aurelio Rojas, 916-651-4013 office; 916-747-3199 cell
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Robert Riechel
For San Bruno Patch
Photo Credit: San Bruno Patch Archives
Source Credit: CA State Senator Jerry Hill
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