It’s the one piece of equipment in your fitness business that you hope you and your coaches never have to use: A gym AED.
An AED - or automated external defibrillator - is a medical device that analyzes the heart’s rhythm. In the event of sudden cardiac arrest, and if necessary, it delivers an electric shock to help reestablish an effective rhythm.
All 50 states have laws or regulations in place for AEDs to be available in public gathering places. However, the requirements for fitness businesses vary by state.
Brian Aung is Head of Gym Insurance at PushPress, an insurance company with more than 2,500 gym clients around the world. Today, Brian wants to help gym owners be prepared. AEDs are just one of the many gym legal issues that might arise, so he’s sharing advice, stories and frequently asked questions.
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A Gym Owner's Worst Nightmare
In 2019, a gym in Washington State had a member go into cardiac arrest at the gym.
They called 911, deployed their AED and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Despite the gyms’ best attempts, the member passed away after being transported to the hospital.
In the aftermath, the family of the deceased tried suing the gym for wrongful death.
“This is by far the worst thing that can happen to a gym owner,” said Brian. “You do everything you can and now the family is coming after you.”
Ultimately, the gym won the lawsuit as a result of the Good Samaritan Law. This means they had a gym AED and they did everything they could to try to revive the individual.
FAQ About Gym AED:
1. Won’t I be liable if my AED doesn't save the member’s life?
Brian says that the long and short of it is no, you won't be liable. In fact, he says the Washington State gym example above reiterates this point.
“If you’re certified in CPR and you have an AED, you’re not negligent,” he said.
2. Why do I have to have a gym AED if it’s not guaranteed to save a life?
Because for every story you hear about someone not surviving, there are 6 more stories where an AED saved a member’s life.
In fact, here are three recent examples where a gym AED did save a members life:
- February 2024 - Orangetheory Owner Saves Members Life with AED
- February 2024 - Colorado UFC Gym Owner Saved with AED
- October 2022 - Timberwolf Fitness Saves Members Life With AED
3. Is an AED hard to use?
Vernon assures gym owners that they’re incredibly easy to use. For example, the machine will actually walk you through every step of the process.
Above all, he recommends making sure your entire staff is CPR certified and trained to use the gym AED.
4. Does brand or type or price matter?
The good news is that you really can’t go wrong with any type of AED.
AEDs are so highly regulated that any model would be suitable for a gym, explained Vernon.
He made sure to remind fitness business owners to ensure you’re changing the battery and pads as needed in your AED. Some machines will beep to indicate that the battery is low. But no matter what, a regularly-scheduled equipment check is never a bad idea.
Brian shared that the Gym Insurance team has made ordering and maintaining your AED really easy and affordable with our Cintas AED offer - we negotiated a group rate for all our gym owners directly with Cintas so you can get a Cintas AED and monthly servicing for only $52/mo.
5. Are gyms legally required to have an AED?
Gyms aren’t required by federal law to have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), but many states do require them in health clubs and fitness centers. In nearly 20 states—including California, Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts—AED laws may also include staff training and regular maintenance. Gym Insurance+ by PushPress helps gym owners stay protected and prepared by understanding these requirements and reducing risk.
Avoid The Risk. Protect Your Gym.
An AED is one of those things that you hope you never have to use. But as Brian reminded us, it’s a “necessary cost of doing business.”
“If you don’t have an AED on site, it’s just irresponsible,” he said.
On the whole, it’s just not worth the risk. Investing the effort into putting a gym AED in your facility, and training your staff to use it, could mean the difference between life and death.
See how Gym Insurance+ by PushPress can protect your gym, studio, or academy today. Get a quote today.
