North Carolina AED Laws
North Carolina
Primary statute: NCGS §§ 90-21.14, 90-21.15 · Schools: NCGS § 115C-375.25 (enacted 2026)
| Good Samaritan Protection | Civil immunity for users, acquirers, trainers, and physicians acting in good faith, absent gross negligence. Public school employees and approved volunteers acting under a school cardiac emergency response plan receive separate immunity, subject to gross negligence, wanton conduct, and intentional wrongdoing exceptions. |
|---|---|
| Medical Direction | Not required. |
| Training | Required. Expected responders must complete CPR/AED training. Public schools must additionally identify personnel for annual CPR and AED training, including at minimum school nurses and staff supervising students during physical activity. |
| Maintenance & Testing | Required per manufacturer guidelines. Public schools are additionally subject to State Board of Education rules on maintenance and routine testing. |
| EMS Notification | Required. Acquirers must notify the local EMS agency of the AED's existence and location. Public schools must also coordinate their cardiac emergency response procedures directly with local EMS providers. |
| Placement Mandates | Public schools: at least one AED per school, clearly signed, accessible without a key or locked barrier, and positioned so it can reach a victim within three minutes. Outside schools, no general statewide placement mandate, though some local jurisdictions have additional requirements. |
Practical note: North Carolina's general compliance profile centers on training, maintenance, and EMS notification. Public schools now carry a substantially heavier obligation — a written, annually reviewed cardiac emergency response plan rather than simply a device on the wall.
2026 Update — School Cardiac Emergency Response Plans Now Required
North Carolina enacted school cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) requirements through the 2026 state budget — Senate Bill 257, the Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2026 — which carried the Smart Heart Act provisions and appropriated roughly $4 million toward AEDs on school campuses. The requirement applies beginning with the 2026–27 school year.
What every public school unit must do
- Develop and implement a written CERP for sudden cardiac arrest and other life-threatening cardiac emergencies on school grounds.
- Build the plan on evidence-based practices, including American Heart Association recommendations or those of another nationally recognized authority.
- Establish a Cardiac Emergency Response Team and define how it is activated during an emergency.
- Identify personnel for annual CPR and AED training — at minimum school nurses and staff supervising students during physical activity.
- Run annual cardiac emergency response drills.
- Coordinate response procedures with local EMS providers so the school plan integrates with community protocols.
- Have the governing body review and update the plan every year.
Statewide AED standards
The State Board of Education is directed to adopt rules governing AED installation, placement, maintenance, and use in public schools. Those rules must require at least one AED per school; clear signage; access without a key or locked barrier; placement allowing application to a victim within three minutes; CPR, AED, and first aid training for school personnel; proper maintenance and routine testing; and oversight of training by appropriately licensed professionals. Board rulemaking was still pending at the time of writing — confirm the adopted rules before finalizing your program.
Who it covers: conforming amendments extend the CERP requirement to local school districts, charter schools, regional schools, Schools for the Deaf, and university-operated K–12 laboratory schools.
Liability protection: authorized school employees and approved volunteers who provide emergency care under the CERP receive immunity from civil liability, except in cases involving gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing.
Legal Disclaimer
This guide is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not legal advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. State AED laws change, and statutory citations evolve through amendment and case law. AED Professionals makes no warranty, express or implied, that the information contained in this guide is current, complete, or accurate for any particular jurisdiction or compliance question. Before relying on this material for any decision affecting compliance, liability, or program operations, verify current requirements with primary sources (state statutes, regulations, and EMS authority guidance) or with qualified legal counsel licensed in the relevant jurisdiction.
Last reviewed: August 2026.
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