AED Laws & Requirements in Georgia
Reviewed against Georgia law on
Georgia AED requirements at a glance
| AED checks and maintenance |
Recommended No schedule for general owners. Schools must maintain and test to manufacturer guidelines. |
|---|---|
| CPR and AED training |
Recommended Recommended for expected users (O.C.G.A. 31-11-53.1). Required for school response teams. |
| Medical direction (physician oversight) |
Not required Not required for general owners. School AED programs need physician oversight. |
| EMS registration of the AED |
Required Notify EMS of the AED's location before use. SB 399 (2026) shares AED locations with 911. |
| School cardiac emergency response plan |
Required Every public K-12 school needs an AED, emergency action plan, response team, and two drills a year (20-2-775). |
Official sources:codes.findlaw.com, law.justia.com, capitol-beat.org
Georgia lets anyone use an AED to save a life. Its general rules for owners are short and focus on making sure 911 knows where AEDs are, while schools face much more detailed requirements under a 2024 update.
Medical Oversight:
General AED owners do not need physician oversight. Schools are the exception: their AED programs must be overseen by a licensed physician or another person authorized by the Georgia Composite Medical Board (below).
Training:
Georgia recommends, but does not require, a nationally recognized CPR course and a state-approved AED course for expected users (O.C.G.A. 31-11-53.1). CPR and AED certification classes cover both.
EMS and 911 Notification:
Anyone who has an AED must notify the appropriate EMS system of its existence and location before putting it into use. The Mason Sells AED Coordination Act (SB 399), signed May 11, 2026, goes further by requiring AED locations to be shared with 911 so dispatchers can direct callers to the nearest device, and by requiring 911 operators to be trained in CPR and AED coaching by the end of 2027. AED365 program management keeps location records current.
Use Protocol:
After using an AED, the user should call 911 as soon as reasonably possible and provide a printed or electronic report to the EMS provider that transports the patient.
Maintenance:
Georgia sets no specific maintenance schedule for general owners. Schools must maintain and test AEDs to manufacturer guidelines. Our pad and battery guide lists replacement intervals by model.
Good Samaritan Protection:
A person who uses an AED in good faith in an emergency is not liable for civil damages unless they acted with gross negligence or intent to harm, and the protection applies even without formal training.
Schools (O.C.G.A. 20-2-775, updated by HB 874 in 2024):
Every public K-12 school must have at least one working AED on site, accessible during school hours and at all school events, including athletic practices and games. Each school also needs a written emergency action plan and an internal response team of at least five staff members with set roles: team lead, CPR lead, AED lead, and communication lead. Team members and other expected users must complete AHA, Red Cross, or equivalent CPR and AED training. Since the 2025-2026 school year, schools must run at least two drills a year, one per semester, and one may be a tabletop exercise. All staff must know where AEDs are and who is on the team. Browse AEDs for schools.
Where does your Georgia AED program stand?
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AED.US does not provide legal advice. AED laws change and vary by facility type. Confirm your requirements with your counsel or the appropriate Georgia agency.