Georgia

(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) “Automated external defibrillator” means a defibrillator which:

(A) Is capable of cardiac rhythm analysis;

(B) Will charge and be capable of being activated to deliver a countershock after electrically detecting the presence of certain cardiac dysrhythmias; and

(C) Is capable of continuous recording of the cardiac dysrhythmia at the scene with a mechanism for transfer and storage or for printing for review subsequent to use.

(2) “Defibrillation” means to terminate ventricular fibrillation.

(3) “First responder” means any person or agency who provides on-site care until the arrival of a duly licensed ambulance service. This shall include, but not be limited to, persons who routinely respond to calls for assistance through an affiliation with law enforcement agencies, fire suppression agencies, rescue agencies, and others.

(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that an automated external defibrillator may be used by any person for the purpose of saving the life of another person in cardiac arrest. In order to ensure public health and safety:

(1) It is recommended that all persons who have access to or use an automated external defibrillator obtain appropriate training as set forth in the rules and regulations of the Department of Public Health. It is further recommended that such training include at a minimum the successful completion of:

(A) A nationally recognized health care provider/professional rescuer level cardiopulmonary resuscitation course; and

(B) A department established or approved course which includes demonstrated proficiency in the use of an automated external defibrillator;

(2) All persons and agencies possessing and maintaining an automated external defibrillator shall notify the appropriate emergency medical services system of the existence and location of the automated external defibrillator prior to said defibrillator being placed in use;

(3) All persons who use an automated external defibrillator shall activate the emergency medical services system as soon as reasonably possible by calling 9-1-1 or the appropriate emergency telephone number upon use of the automated external defibrillator; and

(4) Within a reasonable period of time, all persons who use an automated external defibrillator shall make available a printed or electronically stored report to the licensed emergency medical services provider which transports the patient.

(c) All persons who provide instruction to others in the use of the automated external defibrillator shall have completed an instructor course established or approved by the department.

(d) The department shall establish an automated external defibrillator program for use by emergency medical technicians. Such program shall be subject to the direct supervision of a medical adviser approved under Code Section 31-11-50. No emergency medical technician shall be authorized to use an automated external defibrillator to defibrillate a person unless that defibrillator is a properly maintained automated external defibrillator and that emergency medical technician:

(1) Submits to and has approved by the department an application for such use, and in considering that application the department may obtain and use the recommendation of the local coordinating entity for the health district in which the applicant will use such defibrillator;

(2) Successfully completes an automated external defibrillator training program established or approved by the department;

(3) Is subject to protocols requiring that both the emergency physician who receives a patient defibrillated by that emergency medical technician and the medical adviser for the defibrillator program review the department required prehospital care report and any other documentation of the defibrillation of any person by that emergency medical technician and send a written report of such review to the district EMS medical director of the health district in which the defibrillation occurred; and

(4) Obtains a passing score on an annual automated external defibrillator proficiency exam given in connection with that program.

(e) It shall not be necessary for a licensed emergency medical service, licensed neonatal transport service, or other services licensed by the department which provide care administered by cardiac technicians or paramedics to obtain department approval for the use of an automated external defibrillator on licensed vehicles.

(f) Any emergency medical technician who violates the provisions of this Code section shall be subject to having revoked by the department that person's authority to use an automated external defibrillator. Such a violation shall also be grounds for any entity which issues a license or certificate authorizing such emergency medical technician to perform emergency medical services to take disciplinary action against such person, including but not limited to suspension or revocation of that license or certificate. Such a violation shall also be grounds for the employer of such emergency medical technician to impose any sanction available thereto, including but not limited to dismissal.

(g) Any first responder who gratuitously and in good faith renders emergency care or treatment by the use of or provision of an automated external defibrillator, without objection of the injured victim or victims thereof, shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of such care or treatment or as a result of any act or failure to act in providing or arranging further medical treatment where the person acts without gross negligence or intent to harm or as an ordinary reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances, even if such individual does so without benefit of the appropriate training. This provision includes paid persons who extend care or treatment without expectation of remuneration from the patient or victim for receiving the defibrillation care or treatment.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “lay rescuer” means a person trained to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation and to use an automated external defibrillator, as defined in Code Section 31-11-53.1, and who is participating in a physician or medically authorized automated external defibrillator program.

(b) The following guidelines shall be applicable to the use of automated external defibrillators by lay rescuers:

(1) Any person or entity who acquires an automated external defibrillator shall ensure that:

(A) Expected users of the automated external defibrillator receive American Heart Association or American Red Cross training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use or complete an equivalent nationally recognized course;

(B) The defibrillator is maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines;

(C) There is involvement of a licensed physician or other person authorized by the composite board in the site's automated external defibrillator program to ensure compliance with requirements for training, notification, and maintenance; and

(D) Any person who renders emergency care or treatment to a person in cardiac arrest by using an automated external defibrillator activates the emergency medical services system as soon as possible and reports any clinical use of the automated external defibrillator to the licensed physician or other person authorized by the composite board who is supervising the program; and

(2) Any person or entity who acquires an automated external defibrillator shall notify an agent of the emergency communications or vehicle dispatch center of the existence, location, and type of automated external defibrillator.

(a) The persons described in this Code section shall be immune from civil liability for any act or omission to act related to the provision of emergency care or treatment by the use of or provision of an automated external defibrillator, as described in Code Sections 31-11-53.1 and 31-11-53.2, except that such immunity shall not apply to an act of willful or wanton misconduct and shall not apply to a person acting within the scope of a licensed profession if such person acts with gross negligence. The immunity provided for in this Code section shall extend to:

(1) Any person who gratuitously and in good faith renders emergency care or treatment by the use of or provision of an automated external defibrillator without objection of the person to whom care or treatment is rendered;

(2) The owner or operator of any premises or conveyance who installs or provides automated external defibrillator equipment in or on such premises or conveyance;

(3) Any physician or other medical professional who authorizes, directs, or supervises the installation or provision of automated external defibrillator equipment in or on any premises or conveyance other than any medical facility as defined in paragraph (5) of Code Section 31-7-1; and

(4) Any person who provides training in the use of automated external defibrillator equipment as required by subparagraph (b)(1)(A) of Code Section 31-11-53.2, whether compensated or not. This Code section is not applicable to any training or instructions provided by the manufacturer of the automated external defibrillator or to any claim for failure to warn on the part of the manufacturer.

(b) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed so as to provide immunity to the manufacturer of any automated external defibrillator or off-premises automated external defibrillator maintenance or service providers, nor shall it relieve the manufacturer from any claim for product liability or failure to warn.

(a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the 'Cory Joseph Wilson Act.'

(b) As used in this Code section, the term 'psychomotor skills' means skills using hands-on practice to support cognitive learning.

(c) Beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, each local board of education which operates a school with grades nine through 12 shall provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator to its students as a requirement within existing health or physical education courses. Such training shall include either of the following and shall incorporate into the instruction the psychomotor skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use an automated external defibrillator:

(1) An instructional program developed by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross; or

(2) An instructional program which is nationally recognized and is based on the most current national evidence based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator.

(d) A teacher shall not be required to be a certified trainer of cardiopulmonary resuscitation or to facilitate, provide, or oversee instruction which does not result in certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator.

(e) This Code section shall not be construed to require students to become certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator; provided, however, that if a local board of education chooses to offer courses which result in certification being earned, such courses shall be taught by instructors in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator authorized to conduct an instructional program included in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (c) of this Code section.

(f) The Department of Education shall establish a procedure to monitor adherence by local boards of education.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term “automated external defibrillator” means a defibrillator which:

(1) Is capable of cardiac rhythm analysis;

(2) Will charge and be capable of being activated to deliver a countershock after electrically detecting the presence of certain cardiac dysrhythmias; and

(3) Is capable of continuously recording cardiac dysrhythmia at the scene with a mechanism for transfer and storage or for printing for review subsequent to use.

(b) No later than July 1, 2008, each public high school in this state which has an interscholastic athletics program shall have at least one functional automated external defibrillator on site at such school at all times and easily accessible during any school related function, including athletic practices, athletic competitions, and other occasions where students and others will be present, for use during emergencies.

(c) Each high school possessing and maintaining an automated external defibrillator shall:

(1) Ensure that expected users of the automated external defibrillator receive American Heart Association or American Red Cross training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use or complete an equivalent nationally recognized course;

(2) Notify the appropriate emergency medical services system of the existence and location of the automated external defibrillator prior to said automated external defibrillator being placed in use;

(3) Ensure that the automated external defibrillator is maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines;

(4) Ensure that there is involvement of a licensed physician or other person authorized by the composite board in the site's automated external defibrillator program to ensure compliance with requirements for training, notification, and maintenance; and

(5) Ensure that designated personnel activate the emergency medical services system as soon as reasonably possible after any person renders emergency care or treatment to a person in cardiac arrest by using an automated external defibrillator and reports any clinical use of the automated external defibrillator to the licensed physician or other person authorized by the composite board who is supervising the program.

(d) Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the Department of Education shall provide funds to local school systems to assist in the purchase of automated external defibrillators pursuant to this Code section.

(e) The department and local school systems shall use diligent efforts to identify private sources of funding or donation of funding and equipment to meet the requirements of this Code section.

(6) The dentist issued a permit in either Moderate Enteral Conscious Sedation or Moderate Parenteral Conscious Sedation shall maintain a properly equipped facility for the administration of such sedation, staffed with appropriately trained and supervised personnel. The facility must have equipment capable of delivering positive pressure oxygen ventilation, a pulse oximeter, suction equipment that allows aspiration of the oral and pharyngeal cavities, an operating table or chair that allows for the patient to be positioned to maintain an airway, a firm platform for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a fail-safe inhalation system if nitrous oxide/oxygen is used, equipment necessary to establish intravascular access, equipment to continuously monitor blood pressure and heart rate, appropriate emergency drugs per ACLS or PALS protocol, a manual or automatic external defibrillator, and a recovery area with available oxygen and suction. All of the aforementioned equipment, drugs, and supplies must be stationary and not subject to transfer from one facility to another. The applicant must submit verification that the facility meets the above requirements and shall be subject to an on-site inspection. The dentist and all support personnel must be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the basic life support healthcare provider level given by a board approved sponsor with update not to exceed two years per board rules 150-3-.08 , 150-3-.09 , 150-5- .04, 150-5-.05. Additionally, the dentist must have current certification in advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) for adult permits or pediatric advanced life support (PALS) for pediatric permits or an appropriate dental sedation/anesthesia emergency management course as approved by the board.

(3) In all areas in which this level of anesthesia is being conducted, the dentist shall maintain a properly equipped facility for the administration of deep sedation/general anesthesia, staffed with appropriately trained and supervised personnel. The facility must have equipment capable of delivering positive pressure oxygen ventilation, a pulse oximeter, suction equipment that allows aspiration of the oral and pharyngeal cavity, an operating table or chair that allows for the patient to be positioned to maintain an airway, a firm platform for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a fail-safe inhalation system if nitrous oxide/oxygen is used, equipment to continuously monitor blood pressure and heart rate and rhythm, EKG monitor, appropriate emergency drugs per ACLS protocol including reversal agents for narcotics and/or benzodiazepines depending on which is actually utilized, a manual or automatic external defibrillator, and a recovery area with available oxygen and suction. The facility shall have continual monitoring of end tidal CO2 (expired carbon dioxide) unless invalidated by the nature of the patient, procedure or equipment. "Continual" shall mean "repeated regularly and frequently in steady rapid succession." All of the aforementioned equipment and supplies must be stationary and not subject to transfer from one facility to another. The applicant must submit verification that the facility meets the above requirements and shall be subject to an on-site inspection.