South Australia’s AED Legislation: What You Need to Know and Why CPR Training is Essential
Feb 4
3 min read
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As of 1st January 2025, the Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022 is now in effect. This makes South Australia the first state to mandate the installation, maintenance, and registration of publicly accessible AEDs in certain locations. Under the new law, businesses and public places are required to have an AED if they meet specific criteria, such as:
A large number of employees or visitors
High foot traffic
Environments where the risk of cardiac arrest is higher (e.g., construction sites, gyms, bowling clubs, shopping centres, or sports stadiums)
Is Your Business Required to Have an AED?
To determine if your business or public place is required to comply, consider the following:
Risk-based assessment: If your workplace has high-risk factors (e.g., physically demanding or high-stress environments), you may be required to have an AED.
Number of people: Locations with a large number of employees or visitors, such as shopping centres or large office buildings, may need an AED.
Failure to comply with these regulations may lead to fines, underscoring the importance of ensuring AEDs are accessible and functional.
This is a significant step forward in improving survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest—but there’s one crucial piece of the puzzle we can’t forget: CPR training.
AED Use: No Training Required, But CPR Still Essential
The good news is that the Act states a person does not need training to use an AED in an emergency. AEDs are designed to be user-friendly, with clear voice prompts to guide you through each step. This means anyone can step in and use an AED, even without prior experience.
However, while AEDs are vital, they are not the first step in saving a life. When someone collapses and is unresponsive, you need to follow DRSABCD:
D – Danger
Before helping, check for any dangers to yourself, the patient, and others.
R – Response
Tap the person and ask loudly, "Can you hear me?" If they don’t respond, move to the next step.
S – Send for Help
📞 Call 000 and get a defib (AED) immediately. If others are around, get someone to call while you start CPR. Ask someone else to grab the nearest AED.
A – Airway
Tilt their head back slightly and check if the airway is clear. Remove anything blocking it.
B – Breathing
Look, listen, and feel for breathing for up to 10 seconds. If they’re not breathing normally, start CPR.
C – CPR
Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest (30 compressions, 2 breaths). Keep going until help arrives or an AED is ready.
D – Defibrillation
⚡ Use the AED as soon as possible. It will guide you with voice prompts—just follow the instructions.
🚑 Remember: Early CPR and defibrillation can double or even triple survival rates.
The Reality of Cardiac Arrest
70% of cardiac arrests happen at home, meaning it could be a family member who needs your help.
Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces survival chances by 10%.
CPR combined with early defibrillation can increase survival rates to over 70% (Australian Resuscitation Council).
Survival rates with bystander CPR and AED use are significantly higher (Heart Foundation)
Be Prepared – Get Trained
While AEDs are life-saving devices, they do not replace CPR training. Knowing how to respond in an emergency gives you the confidence to act quickly and effectively.
At Safe Hands SA, we offer both nationally recognised First Aid and CPR training and general awareness sessions for workplaces, community groups, and individuals. Whether you need a formal qualification or just want to be prepared, we have training options to suit your needs.
Book a CPR Course Today
Don’t wait for an emergency to realise you could have done more. Be prepared – Book a CPR course with Safe Hands SA today and gain the skills to make a life-saving difference!
➡️ Contact us now contact@safehandssa.com or call 0433234918