CHAPTER 34

An Act concerning certain emergency medical services and supplementing Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

C.2A:62A-23 Legislative findings relative to acquisition, deployment, use of automated external defibrillators.

1. The Legislature finds that more than 350,000 Americans die annually from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest. Many die needlessly because life saving defibrillators are not immediately available. The American Heart Association estimates that almost 100,000 deaths could be prevented each year if defibrillators were more widely available to designated responders.

Many communities in this State have invested in 911 emergency telephone equipment, ambulances and the training of emergency personnel. Not all emergency personnel, however, have been trained in or have immediate access to defibrillators. It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage greater acquisition, deployment and use of automated external defibrillators by trained personnel throughout this State.

C.2A:62A-24 Definitions relative to acquisition, deployment, use of automated external defibrillators.

2. As used in this act:

"Automated external defibrillator" or "defibrillator" means a medical device heart monitor and defibrillator that:

a. Has received approval of its pre-market notification filed pursuant to 21 U.S.C. s.360 (k) from the United States Food and Drug Administration;

b. Is capable of recognizing the presence or absence of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia, and is capable of determining, without intervention by an operator, whether defibrillation should be performed; and

c. Upon determining that defibrillation should be performed, automatically charges and requests delivery of an electrical impulse to an individual's heart.

C.2A:62A-25 Responsibilities of person, entity acquiring automated external defibrillator.

3. A person or entity that acquires an automated external defibrillator shall:

a. Ensure that any person, prior to using that defibrillator, has successfully completed and holds a current certification from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association or other training program recognized by the Department of Health and Senior Services in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and use of a defibrillator;

b. Ensure that the defibrillator is maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines;

c. Notify the appropriate first aid, ambulance or rescue squad or other appropriate emergency medical services provider that the person or entity has acquired the defibrillator, the type acquired and its location; and

d. Prior to purchasing the automated external defibrillator, provide the prescribing licensed physician with documentation that the person or entity purchasing the defibrillator has a protocol in place to comply with the requirements of subsections a., b. and c. of this section.

C.2A:62A-26 Requirements for user of defibrillator.

4. a. A person shall not use a defibrillator unless he has successfully completed and holds a current certification from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association or other training program recognized by the Department of Health and Senior Services in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and use of a defibrillator; provided however, this section shall not be applicable to a person who is licensed as a paramedic, emergency medical technician-D, or a first responder-D by the Department of Health and Senior Sevices.

b. Any person who uses a defibrillator shall request emergency medical assistance from the appropriate first aid, ambulance or rescue squad as soon as practicable.

C.2A:62A-27 Immunity from civil liability for user of defibrillator; exceptions.

5. a. Any person or entity who, in good faith, acquires or provides a defibrillator, renders emergency care or treatment by the use of a defibrillator or supervises such care or treatment and, who has complied with the requirements of this act, shall be immune from civil liability for any personal injury as a result of such care or treatment, or as a result of any acts or omissions by the person or entity in providing, rendering or supervising the emergency care or treatment.

b. The immunity provided in subsection a. of this section shall include the prescribing licensed physician and the person or entity who provided the training in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and use of the defibrillator.

c. This subsection shall not immunize a person for any act of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. It shall not be considered gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct to fail to use a defibrillator in the absence of an otherwise preexisting duty to do so.

6. This act shall take effect immediately.

Approved March 8, 1999.