Why Every High-Rise Building Should Have an AED—and a Plan

From office towers to university dorms, high-rise buildings play host to thousands of people every day. Whether you're a facilities manager, safety officer, HR leader, or school administrator, there’s one crucial device that can turn a life-threatening emergency into a survivable event: the AED, or Automated External Defibrillator.

In buildings where seconds matter but access can be challenging, having an AED, and knowing how to use it, can be the difference between life and death.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Can Happen Anywhere

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) strikes without warning and doesn’t discriminate. It can happen to a visitor in a corporate lobby, a professor in a university lecture hall, or a maintenance worker in the stairwell. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the United States, and only about 10% of victims survive.

The odds improve drastically when bystanders intervene with CPR and an AED. The first few minutes are critical. Yet in high-rise buildings, EMS response may be delayed due to building height, elevator wait times, and security check-in procedures. That’s why immediate access to defibrillation is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

The Unique Challenges of High-Rise Response

When cardiac arrest happens in a multi-story building, there are built-in barriers that slow down emergency medical services:

Elevator delays: EMTs may need to wait for an elevator or navigate crowded stairwells.
Security access: Gaining access to secure floors can take precious minutes.
Disorientation: Visitors and staff may not know where to find emergency equipment or exits.
Response lag: Even a quick EMS dispatch can result in a 6-10 minute delay—too long in a cardiac emergency.

These realities put the responsibility for first response squarely on the people already inside the building.

How AEDs Bridge the Gap

An AED is a lightweight, portable device that analyzes the heart’s rhythm and delivers an electric shock, if needed, to restore a normal rhythm. Modern AED machines are designed to be simple enough for non-medical personnel to use, offering audio and visual prompts that guide users step-by-step.

The benefits of AEDs in high-rise buildings include:

Speed: AEDs allow laypeople to provide potentially life-saving care before EMS arrives.
Simplicity: No medical experience needed, anyone can use one with minimal training.
Scalability: You can place AEDs on every floor or in high-traffic areas like lobbies, gyms, and conference rooms.
Compliance and preparedness: AEDs help businesses align with OSHA recommendations, legal requirements, and workplace safety standards.

Where Should AEDs Be Placed in High-Rise Buildings?

The American Heart Association recommends an AED be accessible within a 3-minute round trip for any occupant. That means placing AEDs:

Near elevators on each floor
In fitness centers or recreation rooms
Inside security or maintenance offices
At front desks or reception areas
In large conference rooms or training centers

Additionally, signage should be clear and consistent, much like fire extinguisher or first aid kit signage. Visibility leads to usability.

Training Makes the Difference

Training doesn’t need to be time-consuming. Many organizations now offer blended learning options—part online, part hands-on—that can be completed in just a few hours. Even brief training refreshers every one or two years can keep knowledge sharp.

The goal is not to turn employees into EMTs, but to make sure that when something happens, someone nearby knows how to step in. Having a trained core team on each floor, or at least in key areas, can drastically reduce response time and increase survival chances.

AEDs as Part of a Broader Safety Strategy

The type of AED you choose depends on your needs. We recommend you research a variety of brands to find an AED that meets your criteria. Features to look for include:

Ease of use with voice prompts or visual cues to provide guidance
Self-checking to ensure readiness when responding to an emergency
Pediatric capabilities if there are children in the workplace, i.e. school, daycare, etc.
Durability especially if it’s in an industrial setting or outdoors
CPR feedback with verbal instructions given in between shocks administered

Where Should We Keep Our AED?

Having AEDs in a building is not enough, they must be placed where they can be accessed quickly. The American Heart Association recommends that AEDs be reachable within three minutes, round-trip. For a high-rise, that usually means placing units on multiple floors.

Priority locations include elevator lobbies, building entrances, security desks, reception areas, break rooms, and fitness centers. These are areas with high foot traffic or where employees tend to gather, increasing the likelihood that someone will notice and respond quickly if an emergency occurs nearby.

Planning for Every Emergency

No one expects a cardiac emergency in their building. But when it happens, preparedness is everything. In high-rise buildings where EMS access can be delayed, AEDs fill a critical gap. They turn bystanders into responders and give victims a fighting chance in the minutes that matter most.

AEDs are more than machines. They’re a statement of responsibility, an acknowledgment that health emergencies are part of modern building management, and that saving lives starts long before an ambulance pulls up.