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Oregon's New AED Law Coming Soon
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Lise Harwin
 
December 1, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore. – Starting January 1, 2010, Oregon buildings that are larger than 50,000 square feet and have more than 25 visitors per day must have at least one Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on their premises. Read the new law here.

But there are still many questions – do employees count as visitors? How many AEDs are recommended for a large space? If a business has an AED but no employees trained to use it, what's their liability? And, in these tough economic times, should businesses be required to spend anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 on an AED?

Fortunately, the American Red Cross can help -- from answering tough questions to helping businesses with their purchase, training and maintenance of an AED.

As the state's only non-profit AED retailer, making an AED purchase through the American Red Cross is not only an investment toward protecting employees and visitors, but also a way to support the organization's work of saving and rebuilding lives here in Oregon.

Sudden cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming 350,000 lives annually. Locally, the Oregon Trail Chapter has worked with companies to implement AED programs since 2000, ensuring that businesses are ready to respond to a cardiac emergency where people spend most of their waking time – the workplace.

For more information, visit www.oregonredcross.org/AED. To talk with a cardiac arrest survivor, interview a Red Cross expert about Oregon's new law or see an AED demonstration, call 503-528-5629.

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In Oregon, the American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disaster an average of 10 times a week ; supplies more than 90 percent of Oregon 's blood; teaches thousands of Oregonians lifesaving skills; offers transportation to seniors and the disabled; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.oregonredcross.org or join our award-winning blog at www.oregonredcross.org/blog.