AED Mounting Height: Do’s and Don’ts

“More than 15% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in a public location,” according to the American Heart Association, clearly showing that having AEDs, or Automated External Defibrillators, close at hand, and bystanders trained to use them, is vitally important.  What is an AED? AEDs are easy-to-use medical devices that deliver an electric shock to the heart to help establish a proper rhythm during cardiac arrest.

Ideal AED Placement Locations

Since AEDs are life-saving devices, it is absolutely vital to have them placed where they can most easily and quickly be accessed in the event of an emergency. Read on to learn proper mounting techniques and the do’s and don’ts of AED placement.

AED Cabinet Mounting Height Guidelines

According to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), there are essential guidelines one must consider when mounting the AED cabinets. To be ADA compliant, here are some general rules (but always check first with your legal counsel or proper authorities, as there may be special considerations to note) for mounting your AED cabinets (according to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, Section 308). 

Forward Reach:

• The AED cabinet handle must be positioned between 15 and 48 inches above the finished floor (AFF).
  
• If reaching forward over an obstruction:
  
  • The clear floor space must extend under the obstruction to match the required reach depth.
    
  • For a reach depth of 20 inches or less, the maximum reach height is 48 inches.
    
  • For a reach depth over 20 inches (up to 25 inches), the maximum reach height is 44 inches AFF.
    

Side (Parallel) Reach:

• For unobstructed side reach, the AED and cabinet handles must be between 15 and 48 inches AFF.
  
• If there is an obstruction, it may extend no more than 10 inches from the front of the cabinet into the clear floor or ground space.
  

Do’s and Don’ts for Placing AEDS

Don’t 

• Put your AED where it is difficult to get to or see (i.e., in a drawer, cabinet, behind a door, or past a one-way access door).
• Mount your AED without proper signage.
• Place your AED somewhere without public access (like in a locked office, for example).

Do

• Mount your AED in a clear location, where it is easy not only to see but also to explain very quickly where it can be found, as every second counts in a cardiac emergency. 
• Mark your AED with clear official AED signs.
• Place your AED in a publicly accessible high-traffic area, such as close to elevators (but not right next to them), near front desks, or in a gym.
• Mount your AED near a public phone and/or radio, if possible

AED for Schools: Important Considerations

1. Accessibility & Visibility

Make sure you have clear signs throughout the school, unobstructed paths, and that the AED is in a high-traffic area such as a cafeteria or a gym.

2. Staff Training

Train staff, teachers, and coaches in CPR and AED use, and offer regular refresher courses to maintain confidence and skills. Regular AED retrieval and use drills should be conducted. Rescue Training Institute offers multiple courses, including Basic First Aid with CPR & AED Class, CPR & AED Class, CPR, AED & Basic First Aid Blended Training for the Workplace, and High Performance CPR Class for the Workplace. 

3. Maintenance

Check AED units monthly for battery life, pad expiration, and proper function. Rescue Manager, an online AED program manager by Rescue Training Institute, can help you organize your AED program and achieve peace of mind.

4. Multiple Units

Although most schools in most states are only required to have one AED on campus, multiple units are a much smarter choice, since cardiac emergency response time should be 3-5 minutes.

Let Rescue Training Institute Equip You!

Don’t know where to start learning about AED use and guidelines? Need training in how to handle sudden cardiac arrests or other first aid emergencies? Are you a school or workplace needing to purchase AED kits or resources? Rescue Training Institute has you covered! We have an online AED store selling the latest models such as HeartSine®  Samaritan PAED 350P, Defibtech Lifeline, Cardiac Science G5 AED, ZOLL AED Plus, along with AED pads, batteries, cases, cabinet mounts, and supplies. Rescue Training Institute also offers classes on how to handle just about every emergency, including multiple courses on AED use and CPR. Let Rescue Training Institute equip you to feel an incredible peace of mind as you know you’re set up to handle emergencies with success!