The story behind the law

In the years since, Ontario’s AED policy has continued to evolve. The 2020 Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act extended and refined the framework, requiring AEDs in designated public facilities to be registered with the Ontario AED Registry (administered by the Heart and Stroke Foundation), properly maintained, and clearly identified by signage.

The combined effect: AEDs have gone from “rare in public spaces” to “expected in every Ontario school and arena” over the last two decades. Every minute that defibrillation is delayed lowers the odds of survival, which is why the Canadian Red Cross urges rescuers to use an AED “as soon as it is available” — public-access deployment is designed to close that gap.

Source: Ontario Heart Defibrillator Civil Liability Act, 2007; Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, 2020; “use as soon as available” per Canadian Red Cross 2025 / ILCOR 2025 BLS.

The Chase McEachern Act: Good Samaritan protection

The Chase McEachern Act (officially the Heart Defibrillator Civil Liability Act, 2007) does one essential thing: it protects you from civil liability if you use an AED in good faith to help someone experiencing a cardiac emergency.

What that means in practice:

• You can use a public AED without fear of being sued if the outcome doesn’t go well
• The protection applies whether you’re trained or not — though training obviously helps you use the AED correctly
• The protection applies whether the casualty is an adult or a child
• The protection applies whether the AED is publicly accessible or privately owned
• The protection covers ordinary people, not just designated first aiders — neighbours, bystanders, family members

The Act removes the legal disincentive to act. Modern AEDs are designed to be usable by bystanders — the device reads the heart’s rhythm and will only deliver a shock if a shock will help, so the rescuer makes no diagnosis at all. That is why the Canadian Red Cross and the European Resuscitation Council both state that an AED requires no training to use. The Chase McEachern Act makes sure the legal risk isn’t a reason to hesitate.

Source: Ontario Heart Defibrillator Civil Liability Act, 2007; “the AED decides / no training needed to use one” per Canadian Red Cross 2025 and ERC 2025 BLS.

The Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, 2020

The 2020 Act covers the “supply side” of public access defibrillation — making sure AEDs are actually there when someone needs them, that they’re working, and that people can find them.

Key provisions:

• Designated premises must have AEDs installed — schools, public arenas, large recreation facilities, and other categories specified in the regulations
• AEDs must be registered with the Ontario AED Registry — administered by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, this lets 911 dispatchers direct callers to the nearest AED
• AEDs must be maintained — regular pad and battery checks, defined maintenance protocols
• Signage is required — clear identification of AED locations so the public can find them
• Records of inspections and maintenance must be kept

Best practice — reinforced internationally by the European Resuscitation Council — is that public-access AED cabinets should be unlocked and available around the clock; locked cabinets that delay access work against the whole point of a public AED.

Source: Ontario Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, 2020; unlocked/24-7 cabinet guidance per ERC 2025 BLS (aligned with ILCOR 2025 BLS 2123).

AEDs in Ontario schools

Most Ontario school boards — public and Catholic, English and French — have deployed AEDs in every elementary and secondary school as standard board-level policy. The deployment was driven by the combined effect of the Chase McEachern Act, advocacy from organizations like the Heart and Stroke Foundation, board-level health and safety policies, and provincial requirements that have evolved since 2007.

What schools typically have in place:

• An AED in a central location — usually the main office, the gym, or a clearly-signed wall cabinet in a main corridor
• Pediatric pads available for elementary schools
• Designated staff trained in CPR and AED use
• An emergency response plan that includes who retrieves the AED during a cardiac event
• Annual maintenance checks (or a maintenance service contract)
• Registration with the Ontario AED Registry

For school athletic events and tournaments, the operating school or facility is responsible for AED availability. Visiting teams don’t bring AEDs; they rely on the host facility’s AED.

Public arenas and recreation facilities

Indoor arenas, community centres, large sport venues, indoor pools, and similar publicly-owned facilities are covered by the 2020 Act. Most have one or more AEDs prominently displayed, typically near the main entrance, in the lobby, or at strategically distributed points throughout larger facilities.

Private facilities (private clubs, gyms, dance studios, dojos) aren’t covered by the same mandatory deployment requirements, but many install AEDs voluntarily. The combination of the Chase McEachern Act’s liability protection and the cost reductions in AED units over the last 20 years has made voluntary deployment increasingly common.

Sport organizations: what to do if you operate a club

• If you rent space in a publicly-owned arena or rec centre: there’s almost certainly an AED on site already. Confirm with the facility manager where it’s located and how to access it during your activities.
• If you operate out of a private facility: ask whether the facility has an AED. If not, consider whether installing one is appropriate — see our AED buyer’s guide for cost and selection guidance.
• If you organize community sport events: confirm AED availability with the host venue. For tournaments and major events, some leagues require designated AED-trained staff on site.
• Train your coaches and volunteers in CPR + AED use — every Standard CPR Level C course includes AED training as part of the curriculum.

Using an AED on a child or baby

One of the most common questions parents and coaches have: “What if my child needs an AED?” The short answer from the Canadian Red Cross is reassuring: the AED procedure is the same for a child or a baby as it is for an adult. Use it — and don’t withhold defibrillation.

How to use an AED on a child or baby, step by step:

1. Turn on the AED and follow the voice prompts. Send someone to call 911 and start CPR. The moment the AED arrives, turn it on and do exactly what it says — the same as you would for an adult.
2. Use pediatric pads or the child key/switch if the unit has one. These are intended for a child (1 year to puberty) or a baby (under 1 year), roughly under 25 kg (about 55 lb).
3. If there are no pediatric pads or child setting, use adult pads. Do not withhold the shock just because you only have adult pads — a delayed shock is the bigger risk.
4. Keep the pads from touching. Keep pads at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) apart on bare skin. On a small chest, if the pads would touch, place one on the front of the chest and one on the back (anterior-posterior). Remove any medication patches before applying pads.
5. Stand clear, shock if advised, then resume CPR. Make sure no one is touching the child while the AED analyses. If a shock is advised, stand clear and deliver it, then immediately resume CPR starting with compressions until EMS takes over.

Source: Canadian Red Cross 2025 — pediatric AED specifics (same procedure as adult; pediatric pads or child key/switch for a child 1 yr–puberty or baby <1 yr / <55 lb (~25 kg); use adult pads if none, don’t withhold defibrillation; keep pads ≥2.5 cm apart or use anterior–posterior; remove medication patches). Concordant with ILCOR 2025 BLS.

Registering an AED with the Ontario AED Registry

If your school, facility, or organization installs an AED, registration is straightforward:

1. Contact the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Ontario AED Registry
2. Provide the facility’s address, AED model, location within the facility, hours of accessibility, and contact for maintenance
3. Keep maintenance records as required under the 2020 Act
4. Update the Registry if the AED moves, the facility changes hours, or the unit is replaced

Registration matters because it allows 911 dispatchers to direct callers to the nearest registered AED during a cardiac emergency.

Why training matters even with the Good Samaritan protection

The Chase McEachern Act protects untrained bystanders who use AEDs in good faith — but training dramatically improves the effectiveness of the response. Standard CPR Level C, Standard First Aid, and BLS courses all include AED training. For schools, sport organizations, and community facilities, having trained staff means the AED is more likely to be deployed quickly and correctly during an actual cardiac emergency. For a refresher, see our step-by-step how to use an AED guide.