Colorado § 13-21-108.1 - Persons rendering emergency assistance through the use of automated external defibrillators - limited immunity - definition.

§ 13-21-108.1. Persons rendering emergency assistance through the use of automated external defibrillators - limited immunity - definition.

(1) The general assembly hereby declares that it is the intent of the general assembly to encourage the use of automated external defibrillators for the purpose of saving the lives of people in cardiac arrest.

(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "AED" or "defibrillator" means an automated external defibrillator that:

(a) Has received approval of its premarket notification filed pursuant to 21 U.S.C. sec. 360 (k) from the federal 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.

(3) (a) In order to ensure public health and safety, a person or entity who acquires an AED shall ensure that:

(I) Expected AED users receive training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED use through a course that meets nationally recognized standards and is approved by the department of public health and environment;

(II) The defibrillator is maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines and that written records are maintained of this maintenance and testing;

(III) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2009, (SB 09-010), ch. 52, p. 186, § 1, effective March 25, 2009.)

(IV) Written plans are in place concerning the placement of AEDs, training of personnel, preplanned coordination with the emergency medical services system, medical oversight, AED maintenance, and reporting of AED utilization; and

(V) Any person who renders emergency care or treatment to a person in cardiac arrest by using an AED activates the emergency medical services system as soon as possible.

(b) Any person or entity that acquires an AED shall notify an agent of the applicable emergency communications or vehicle dispatch center of the existence, location, and type of AED.

(4) (a) Any person or entity whose primary duties do not include the provision of health care and who, in good faith and without compensation, renders emergency care or treatment by the use of an AED shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts or omissions made in good faith 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, unless the acts or omissions were grossly negligent or willful and wanton.

(b) The limited immunity provided in subsection (4)(a) of this section extends to:

(I) Repealed.

(II) The person or entity who provides the CPR and AED site placement;

(III) Any person or entity that provides teaching or training programs for CPR to the site at which the AED is placed, which programs include training in the use of an AED; and

(IV) The person or entity responsible for the site where the AED is located.

(c) The limited immunity provided in this subsection (4) applies regardless of whether the requirements of subsection (3) of this section are met; except that the person or entity responsible for the site where the AED is located shall receive the limited immunity only if the requirements of subparagraph (II) of paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section are met.

(5) The requirements of subsection (3) of this section shall not apply to any individual using an AED during a medical emergency if that individual is acting as a good samaritan under section 13-21-108.

Source: L. 99: Entire section added, p. 349, § 1, effective April 16. L. 2005: (3)(a)(I) amended, p. 384, § 2, effective August 8. L. 2009: (3)(a)(III), (3)(a)(IV), (3)(a)(V), (4)(b), and (4)(c) amended, (SB 09-010), ch. 52, p. 186, § 1, effective March 25. L. 2025: (2), (3)(a)(IV), and IP(4)(b) amended and (4)(b)(I) repealed, (SB 25-191), ch. 164, p. 664, § 1, effective May 5.

ANNOTATION

Law reviews. For article, "Colorado's Good Samaritan Laws", see 53 Colo. Law. 42 (Apr. 2024).