Connecticut

(a) (1) A person … trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association, or a person operating an automatic external defibrillator, who, voluntarily and gratuitously and other than in the ordinary course of such person's employment or practice, renders emergency medical or professional assistance to a person in need thereof, shall not be liable to such person assisted for civil damages for any personal injuries which result from acts or omissions by such person in rendering the emergency care, which may constitute ordinary negligence. A person or entity that provides or maintains an automatic external defibrillator shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of such person or entity in providing or maintaining the automatic external defibrillator, which may constitute ordinary negligence. A person or entity that provides or maintains an automatic external defibrillator in a cabinet, which also contains an opioid antagonist used to treat or prevent a drug overdose, shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of such person or entity in making available the opioid antagonist, which may constitute ordinary negligence. The immunity provided in this subsection does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, wilful or wanton negligence. With respect to the use of an automatic external defibrillator, the immunity provided in this subsection shall only apply to acts or omissions involving the use of an automatic external defibrillator in the rendering of emergency care, except a health club licensed pursuant to section 21a-223, as amended by this act, shall not be held liable on and after October 1, 2022, for acts or omissions involving the nonuse of the automatic external defibrillator. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to exempt paid or volunteer firefighters, police officers or emergency medical services personnel from completing training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation or in the use of an automatic external defibrillator in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. For the purposes of this subsection, "automatic external defibrillator" means a device that: (A) Is used to administer an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart; (B) contains internal decision-making electronics, microcomputers or special software that allows it to interpret physiologic signals, make medical diagnosis and, if necessary, apply therapy; (C) guides the user through the process of using the device by audible or visual prompts; and (D) does not require the user to employ any discretion or judgment in its use.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery under the provisions of chapter 370 or dentistry under the provisions of section 20-106 or members of the same professions licensed to practice in any other state of the United States, or a person licensed as a registered nurse under section 20-93 or 20-94 or certified as a licensed practical nurse under section 20-96 or 20-97, who operates an automatic external defibrillator to render emergency medical or professional assistance to a person in need thereof shall not be liable to such person assisted for civil damages for any personal injuries which result from the malfunctioning of the automatic external defibrillator, which malfunctioning was not a result of such health care provider's negligence.

(a) On and after July 1, 2010, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, each local and regional board of education shall have at each school under the board's jurisdiction: (1) An automatic external defibrillator; and (2) school personnel trained in the operation of such automatic external defibrillator and the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The automatic external defibrillator and school personnel trained in the operation of an automatic external defibrillator and the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation shall be accessible during the school's normal operational hours, during school-sponsored athletic practices and athletic events taking place on school grounds and during school sponsored events not occurring during the normal operational hours of the school. (b) Not later than July 1, 2010, each school shall develop an emergency action response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds. (c) Not later than July 1, 2010, each school with an athletic department or organized athletic program shall develop an emergency action response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while attending or participating in an athletic practice or event while on school grounds. (d) A local or regional board of education shall not be required to comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section if federal, state or private funding is not available to such local and regional board of education to purchase an automatic external defibrillator and pay for the training of school personnel described in said subsection (a). A local and regional board of education may accept a donation of an automatic external defibrillator that meets the standards established by the United States Food and Drug Administration and is in compliance with the device manufacturer's maintenance schedule. A local and regional board of education may accept gifts, grants and donations, including in-kind donations designated for the purchase of an automatic external defibrillator and for the costs incurred to inspect and maintain such device and train staff in the use of such device.

(a) Not later than January 1, 2013, the athletic department of each institution of higher education shall develop and implement a policy consistent with this section concerning the availability and use of an automatic external defibrillator during intercollegiate sport practice, training and competition. (b) Each athletic department of an institution of higher education shall (1)(A) provide and maintain in a central location that is not more than one-quarter mile from the premises used by the athletic department at least one automatic external defibrillator, as defined in section 19a-175, and (B) make such central location known and accessible to employees and student-athletes of such institution of higher education during all hours of intercollegiate sport practice, training and competition, (2) ensure that at least one licensed athletic trainer or other person who is trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automatic external defibrillator in accordance with the standards set forth by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association is on the premises used by the athletic department during all hours of intercollegiate sport practice, training and competition, (3) maintain and test the automatic external defibrillator in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines, and (4) promptly notify a local emergency medical services provider after each use of such automatic external defibrillator. As used in this section, “the premises used by the athletic department” means those premises that are used for intercollegiate sport practice, training or competition and may include, but need not be limited to, an athletic building or room, gymnasium, athletic field or stadium; and “intercollegiate sport” means a sport played at the collegiate level for which eligibility requirements for participation by a student-athlete are established by a national association for the promotion or regulation of collegiate athletics.

Each public golf course, as defined in section 30-33, shall provide and maintain in a central location on the premises of the public golf course, at least one automatic external defibrillator, as defined in section 19a-175.

(a) Each individual place of business of each health club shall obtain a license from the Department of Consumer Protection prior to the sale of any health club contract. Application for such license shall be made on forms provided by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection and said commissioner shall require as a condition to the issuance and renewal of any license obtained under this chapter (1) that the applicant provide for and maintain on the premises of the health club sanitary facilities; (2) that the applicant, on and after October 1, 2022, (A) (i) provide and maintain in a readily accessible location on the premises of the health club at least one automatic external defibrillator, as defined in section 19a-175, and (ii) make such location known to employees of such health club, (B) ensure that at least one employee is on the premises of such health club during staffed business hours who is trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automatic external defibrillator in accordance with the standards set forth by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association, (C) maintain and test the automatic external defibrillator in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines, and (D) promptly notify a local emergency medical services provider after each use of such automatic external defibrillator; (3) that the application be accompanied by (A) a license or renewal fee of two hundred fifty dollars, (B) a list of the equipment and each service that the applicant intends to have available for use by buyers during the year of operations following licensure or renewal, and (C) two copies of each health club contract that the applicant is currently using or intends to use; and (4) compliance with the requirements of section 21a-226. Such licenses shall be renewed annually. The commissioner may impose a civil penalty of not more than three hundred dollars against any health club that continues to sell or offer for sale health club contracts for any location but fails to submit a license renewal and license renewal fee for such location not later than thirty days after such license's expiration date.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021)

(a) For the school year commencing July 1, 2022, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education and supervisory agent of a nonpublic school, in consultation with local emergency medical services providers and allied health professionals, shall develop and implement an emergency action plan for responding to serious and life-threatening sports-related injuries that occur during interscholastic and intramural athletic events.

(b) Such emergency action plan shall establish the procedures to be followed in the event that a student sustains a serious injury or illness while participating in an interscholastic or intramural athletic event, and shall include, but need not be limited to, the following components:

(1) A list of the school employees, coaches or licensed athletic trainers in each school who will be responsible for implementing the emergency action plan and a description of each person's responsibilities under the plan;

(2) An identification of the location or venue where the interscholastic or intramural athletic event is taking place;

(3) A description of the equipment and supplies that may be available at the site of the interscholastic or intramural athletic event that will assist in responding to an emergency, including the location of where such equipment and supplies may be found at such site;

(4) A description of the procedures to be followed when a student sustains a serious sports-related injury, including, but not limited to, responding to the injured student, summoning emergency medical care, assisting local first responders in getting to the injured student and documenting the actions taken during the emergency;

(5) A description of the protocols to be followed during cardiac or respiratory emergencies, including the operation of an automatic external defibrillator, use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation or the administration of medication, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-212a of the general statutes;

(6) A description of the protocols to be followed when a student is observed to exhibit signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion or is diagnosed with a concussion, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-149c of the general statutes;

(7) A description of the protocols to be followed when a student suffers from a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, provided such protocols are designed to include instructions that are based on the level of training of the person implementing the emergency action plan and are in accordance with best practices and state law; and

(8) A description of the protocols to be followed in the event of heat and cold-related emergencies, provided such protocols are in accordance with current professional standards.

(c) Each local and regional board of education and supervisory agent of a nonpublic school shall annually review such board or agent's emergency action plan and update such plan, as necessary. Annually, those persons described in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section who are responsible for implementing such emergency action plan, shall rehearse such plan.

(d) Any school employee, coach or licensed athletic trainer identified in the emergency action plan pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section shall be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and have completed a course in first aid offered by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the Department of Public Health, any director of health or an organization using guidelines for first aid published by the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.

(e) Each local and regional board of education and supervisory agent of a nonpublic school shall (1) distribute the emergency action plan to all school employees, coaches and licensed athletic trainers identified in the emergency action plan pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, (2) post such emergency action plan in all athletic facilities and at all sites where interscholastic and intramural athletic events will take place, and (3) make such emergency action plan available on the Internet web site for the school district or school.

(f) In developing and implementing the emergency action plan, a local or regional board of education or supervisory agent of a nonpublic school may utilize existing and appropriate public or private materials, models, personnel and other resources, and may accept gifts, grants and donations, including in-kind donations, designated for the development and implementation of the emergency action plan.