West Virginia State AED Laws

To ensure compliance with AED regulations, a designated medical director plays a pivotal role in coordinating various aspects of the program. This includes overseeing training, collaborating with EMS services, devising AED deployment strategies, and reviewing each AED operation. Operators are required to undergo CPR and AED training, which must adhere to approved programs, while AEDs need to be maintained according to manufacturer guidelines, with detailed records kept. Furthermore, any emergency use of an AED should be promptly reported to the program's medical director, ensuring proper follow-up and coordination with the EMS system.

Summary of Requirements
	Physician	Must designate a medical director for the coordination of the program, which shall include, but not be limited to, training, coordinating with EMS, creating AED deployment strategies and reviewing each operation of an AED.
	CPR/AED Training	The anticipated operator of an AED must receive appropriate training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, referred to as "CPR", in the operation of an AED and in the determination of advance directives from the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, any other nationally recognized course in CPR and AED or an AED and CPR training program approved by the Office of Emergency Medical Services.
	EMS Notification	An entity providing an early defibrillation program shall register the program with the Office of Emergency Medical Services, pursuant to article four-c of this chapter, identifying the placement of AEDs, training of anticipated operators, preplanned EMS system coordination, designation of a medical director, maintenance of AED equipment and reports of AED utilization. Must notify the local EMS system and public safety answering point or other appropriate emergency dispatch center of the existence of an entity's early defibrillation program, the location of the program and the program's plan for coordination with the EMS system.
	Maintenance Program	Must maintain and test the AED in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines and keep written records of this maintenance and testing.
	Notification of Use	An operator of an AED who renders emergency care or treatment on a person experiencing cardiac arrest shall activate the EMS system as soon as possible and shall report the use of an AED to the program medical director.

Good Samaritan Protection
Rescuer	Purchaser	Property Owner	Physician	Trainer
WV Code § 16-4D-4 - 2016 Provides Good Samaritan protection for use of an AED and establishes guidelines for AED programs.

Laws / Legislation
Reference	Date	Summary
WV Code § 18-2-25c	2020	Requires Automated External Defibrillators and trained personnel at school athletic events and practices, effective by the 2021-2022 school year.
WV Code § 22-1-3 & 22-3-4	2018	AEDs are required at underground mines and surface mines.
WV Code § 30-4A-(4-7)	2016	Outlines AED requirements for dental offices.
WV Code § 16-4D-1	2016	The West Virginia Legislature hereby finds and declares that each year more than two hundred fifty thousand Americans die from out-of-hospital incidents of sudden cardiac arrest. More than ninety-five percent of these incidents result in death and, in many cases, death occurs because properly trained persons with life-saving AEDs arrive at the scene too late.
WV Code § 16-4D-2	2016	Defines: Anticipated Operator, Automated External Defibrillator, Early Defibrillation Program, Emergency Medical Services, Entity, Medical Director, and Unanticipated Operator.
WV Code § 16-4D-3	2016	Outlines instructions to ensure the public health and safety for a person that acquires an AED.
WV Code § 18-2-9	2016	The state board shall prescribe a standardized health education assessment to be administered within health education classes to measure student health knowledge and program effectiveness.