Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2025

This bill sets a clear, nationwide rule to protect people who use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in an emergency, with the goal of encouraging more AEDs in public places. It gives lawsuit protection to bystanders who try to help with an AED, to owners or managers of places where an AED is used or taken from, and to people or businesses that own the device—so long as owners keep the AED properly maintained. These protections still apply even if the helper had no AED training, didn’t read posted warnings, or the device wasn’t registered. However, it does not protect criminal acts or serious/reckless wrongdoing, and it does not shield hospitals, clinics, or licensed health professionals when they are acting in their jobs. The bill does not require anyone to install an AED, and it sets a national baseline that overrides state rules that would otherwise allow lawsuits against these protected groups (to encourage wider AED deployment) .

Key points

• Who is protected:
  • Bystanders who use or try to use an AED in a perceived emergency.
  • Owners or managers of places where an AED is used or taken from.
  • AED owners, if they properly maintain the device as the manufacturer recommends.
• Who is not protected:
  • People who act with criminal intent or serious/reckless misconduct (including gross negligence).
  • Hospitals, clinics, and licensed health professionals while acting in their jobs.
• Other changes:
  • Protection applies even without training, posted warnings, or device registration.
  • No requirement to place AEDs; federal rules here preempt conflicting state liability rules for these situations.