Washington AED laws: what AED owners need to know

Washington's main AED law is RCW 70.54.310, enacted in 1998. It sets duties for any person or entity that acquires an AED and gives users and others limited immunity.

Is an AED required at my organization?

It depends. We found no Washington law that requires AEDs in offices, stores or schools in general. These do:

• Fitness centers. "The owner of a fitness center shall acquire and maintain at least one semiautomatic external defibrillator on premises" (RCW 70.54.315(1), effective June 6, 2024). A fitness center is any premises used for exercise, training, martial arts or similar activity "that offers access on a membership basis." Schools, colleges, nonprofits whose fitness use is only incidental, and home facilities without memberships are excluded. The center must also follow RCW 70.54.310's duties.
• High voltage line work. Since January 1, 2025, employers whose employees operate, maintain or construct high voltage lines and equipment (601 volts or more), or do line-clearance tree trimming near them, must make an AED "available and accessible" when two or more employees work on or near those lines (RCW 49.17.510; also the Labor and Industries rule WAC 296-45-125(4)).
• Dental offices giving anesthesia. A Dental Quality Assurance Commission rule says "When anesthetic agents of any kind are administered, the dentist and staff must have access to an AED or defibrillator," and it must be "available and in reach within 60 seconds" (WAC 246-817-722).

Schools are not required by state law to have AEDs. The state superintendent's office must develop guidance for a high school AED program (RCW 28A.300.471). School cardiac emergency plan bills (HB 1863, HB 2549, SB 6118) had not passed as of November 13, 2026.

Inspection and maintenance

Yes. A person or entity who acquires an AED must make sure "The defibrillator is maintained and tested by the acquirer according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines" (RCW 70.54.310(2)(b)). The statute sets no inspection interval and says nothing about records.

High voltage line employers must also "Conduct regular maintenance and annual inspections of the automated external defibrillator to ensure operability and availability" (RCW 49.17.510(1)(b)).

Training

Yes. The acquirer must make sure "Expected defibrillator users receive reasonable instruction in defibrillator use and cardiopulmonary resuscitation by a course approved by the department of health" (RCW 70.54.310(2)(a)). The law sets no headcount. Department of Health guidance (not a statute or rule) names the organizations it recognizes, among them the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross (DOH 530-321).

High voltage line employers must have at least two employees at each site proficient in AED use, trained within the previous two years (RCW 49.17.510(1)(c)).

Medical direction

Yes. Washington law requires that "Upon acquiring a defibrillator, medical direction is enlisted by the acquirer from a licensed physician in the use of the defibrillator and cardiopulmonary resuscitation" (RCW 70.54.310(2)(c)). The law doesn't define what medical direction involves.

The statute also defines a defibrillator as one "as prescribed by a physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW or an osteopath licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW" (RCW 70.54.310(1)). Department of Health guidance reads this as a rule: "In Washington, AEDs must be prescribed by a physician or osteopath licensed by the State of Washington" (DOH 530-321).

Separately from state law, many AED models are sold on a prescription under FDA labeling; your supplier can tell you.

EMS notification

Yes. "The person or entity who acquires a defibrillator shall notify the local emergency medical services organization about the existence and the location of the defibrillator" (RCW 70.54.310(2)(d)). The law doesn't name a registry or a form. The Department of Health lists county AED program contacts on its Public Access Defibrillation page.

After the AED is used

Yes. The acquirer must make sure that the AED user "shall call 911 or its local equivalent as soon as possible after the emergency use of the defibrillator and shall assure that appropriate follow-up data is made available as requested by emergency medical service or other health care providers" (RCW 70.54.310(2)(e)). The law doesn't define "appropriate follow-up data."

Signs and posted instructions

Not addressed. RCW 70.54.310 has no rule about signs, placement or posted instructions. Fitness centers must keep the AED "on premises" (RCW 70.54.315(1)), and high voltage line employers must keep it "available and accessible" to the crew (RCW 49.17.510(1)(a)), and dentists who give anesthetic agents must have it "available and in reach within 60 seconds" (WAC 246-817-722).

Good Samaritan immunity

Washington has two relevant laws:

• The AED statute. The person who uses an AED at the scene of an emergency "and all other persons and entities providing services under this section" are immune from civil liability for personal injury from its use in an emergency. The immunity doesn't apply to acts or omissions that "amount to gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct" (RCW 70.54.310(3)–(4)). The statute doesn't say outright that an owner's immunity depends on meeting the duties above; Department of Health guidance says it does: "Washington law does not provide immunity for failure to comply with the legal requirements imposed on owners of AED equipment" (DOH 530-321).
• Rescuers. A person who gives emergency care at the scene "without compensation or the expectation of compensation" is not liable for civil damages, except for gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. It excludes "Any person rendering emergency care during the course of regular employment and receiving compensation or expecting to receive compensation for rendering such care" (RCW 4.24.300(1)). The law doesn't say whether this covers an employee who uses a workplace AED on the job; ask a lawyer. Someone who uses an AED while acting as a good samaritan under RCW 4.24.300 doesn't have to meet the duties in RCW 70.54.310(2) (RCW 70.54.310(5)).

What this means for your AED program

• When you acquire an AED, enlist medical direction from a licensed physician, and check the prescription point with your supplier.
• Tell your local emergency medical services organization that you have an AED and where it is.
• Have your expected AED users take a CPR and AED course approved by the Department of Health.
• Maintain and test each AED following the manufacturer's operational guidelines. A regular check with a dated record isn't required by the statute, but it shows the maintenance and testing happened.
• Make sure users know to call 911 as soon as possible after using the AED, and be ready to make follow-up data available when EMS or other health care providers ask for it.
• Fitness centers: keep at least one AED on the premises. High voltage line employers: see RCW 49.17.510 for your crew rules.

Sources

All read on 2026-11-13 on the official sites app.leg.wa.gov (statutes and rules), lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov (session law) and doh.wa.gov (guidance).

• RCW 70.54.310: duty of acquirer, immunity (statute; 1998 c 150)
• RCW 70.54.315: fitness centers (statute; 2024 c 186, effective June 6, 2024)
• RCW 4.24.300: Good Samaritan immunity (statute; last amended 2014)
• RCW 49.17.510: high voltage lines and equipment (statute; 2023 c 253, effective January 1, 2025)
• WAC 296-45-125: medical services and first aid for electrical work (Labor and Industries rule; last amended effective January 1, 2025)
• WAC 246-817-722: defibrillator access for dental anesthesia (Dental Quality Assurance Commission rule; last amended effective January 11, 2024)
• RCW 28A.300.471: school AED program guidance (statute; 2013 c 181)
• DOH 530-321, Public Access Defibrillation (Department of Health guidance, revised April 2025; not a statute or rule)

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FAQ

Is an AED required in Washington gyms?

Yes, for fitness centers that offer membership access. Since June 6, 2024, the owner must keep at least one AED on the premises and meet the state's AED owner duties (RCW 70.54.315).

Do Washington schools need AEDs?

No state law requires them; the state only provides guidance for high school AED programs (RCW 28A.300.471). School cardiac emergency plan bills had not passed as of November 13, 2026.

Does Washington require a prescription or medical director for an AED?

Washington law requires the acquirer to enlist medical direction from a licensed physician, and it defines a defibrillator as one prescribed by a licensed physician or osteopath (RCW 70.54.310).

Do I have to register my AED in Washington?

Washington law requires you to notify the local emergency medical services organization about your AED and where it is. It doesn't name a statewide registry (RCW 70.54.310(2)(d)).