AED Inspection Checklist and Workplace CPR Readiness Toolkit
What should an AED inspection checklist include? Start with your AED maker's checklist. American Heart Association AED guidance adds the basics: a ready status indicator, unexpired pads and battery, spare pads and rescue supplies, and a visible, unlocked location with AED signs. This toolkit adds worksheets for an AHA Cardiac Emergency Response Plan and a first aid kit check.
What this toolkit is: printable checklists and worksheets for workplace AED, emergency plan, and first aid kit readiness, based on American Heart Association planning materials, OSHA first aid rules, and the ANSI/ISEA first aid kit standard.
What it is not: hands-on training, a certification, legal or OSHA compliance advice, or a replacement for your AED maker's instructions for use. Confirm the course and card your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state rules require before you register.
AED Inspection Checklist
A printable check for each AED, built from American Heart Association AED program guidance. Your AED maker's instructions for use always come first.
The American Heart Association's AED program guide says to inspect every AED regularly, restock supplies, arrange maintenance when it is needed, and check with the manufacturer for software updates and recalls. It also says to use your AED manufacturer's inspection checklist if it provides one, and to create your own if it does not. The checklist below covers the basics the AHA describes. It does not set check intervals for any brand; use the schedule in your device's instructions for use.
What this toolkit includes
- AED checklist and inspection log: one copy for each AED.
- Cardiac Emergency Response Plan worksheets: response team roles, AED locations and access, 911 and internal communication, a drill log, and a training roster, to use alongside the AHA's free plan template.
- First aid kit checklist: upkeep checks based on OSHA first aid rules and the ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 kit classes.
- Training readiness: which AHA course usually fits each role on your team.
Each checklist and worksheet has its own print button. Check the boxes on screen, or print a blank copy and fill it in by hand. Nothing you check on this page is saved or sent anywhere.
AED Checklist and Inspection Log
Use one copy for each AED. Check each item on the schedule in your AED's instructions for use, then record the check in the log.
Print this worksheet and write your answers in the blank column.
| Item | Your answer |
|---|---|
| AED location | |
| Make and model | |
| Serial number | |
| Where the instructions for use are kept | |
| Person responsible for checks | |
| Manufacturer support contact |
On narrow screens, scroll the table sideways. After tabbing to it, use the arrow keys.
| Check | Date | Checked by | Indicator ready? | Pads expire | Battery date | Action taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check 1 | ||||||
| Check 2 | ||||||
| Check 3 | ||||||
| Check 4 | ||||||
| Check 5 | ||||||
| Check 6 | ||||||
| Check 7 | ||||||
| Check 8 | ||||||
| Check 9 | ||||||
| Check 10 | ||||||
| Check 11 | ||||||
| Check 12 |
From the QKC Health Workplace CPR and AED Readiness Toolkit. General information only. Follow your AED maker's instructions for use.
Cardiac Emergency Response Plan Worksheets
Gather the details your plan needs, then put them into the American Heart Association's free plan template. These worksheets support the AHA materials; they do not replace them.
A Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) is a written plan that sets out the specific steps an organization will take to respond to sudden cardiac arrest. The American Heart Association estimates that about 10,000 cardiac arrests happen in US workplaces each year, and it says all organizations, schools, workplaces, and sports facilities should have a CERP. Its CERP checklist lists the minimum steps:
- Create the plan and a response team.
- Share the plan on site, post it in key locations, and coordinate it with local EMS, fire, and police.
- Place AEDs and keep a routine maintenance schedule.
- Keep staff trained in first aid, CPR, and AED use.
- Practice the plan with routine drills.
- Activate the team when a sudden cardiac arrest happens.
- Review and update the plan every year, and debrief right after any event.
Download the AHA's plan template, protocol, and checklist from its Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) page. Use the worksheets below to collect names, locations, and contacts before you fill in the template. The AHA template says that medical and legal counsel should review a plan before it is put in place, and that the organization is responsible for making sure its plan is consistent with local, state, and federal law.
The AHA's CERP template is dated April 2025, before the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC were published in October 2025. For CPR and AED steps, follow current AHA training. The 2025 Guidelines recommend public access defibrillation programs, which place AEDs in public places and train people to use them, in communities at high risk of cardiac arrest.
Worksheet: Response Team Roles
The AHA template calls this group the Cardiac Emergency Response Team. It suggests a team of at least 5 people or 10% of staff, led by one coordinator, and says every member should have current CPR and AED training from a nationally recognized organization. Print this worksheet and write names in the blank columns.
On narrow screens, scroll the table sideways. After tabbing to it, use the arrow keys.
| Role | Name | Backup | Usual location and hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team coordinator | |||
| Calls 911 and stays on the line | |||
| Brings the nearest AED | |||
| Starts CPR | |||
| Takes turns with chest compressions | |||
| Meets EMS at the entrance | |||
| Keeps the area clear | |||
| Notifies leadership and the emergency contact |
From the QKC Health Workplace CPR and AED Readiness Toolkit. Use with the AHA Cardiac Emergency Response Plan template.
Worksheet: AED Locations and Access
The AHA CERP template sets a goal of getting an AED to any location, ideally within 3 minutes of being notified. The AHA's AED program guide describes the same idea as a 3- to 5-minute round-trip walk, and lists obstacles to plan around, such as crowded areas, elevators and stairs, and locked doors. Print this worksheet and fill in one row for each AED.
On narrow screens, scroll the table sideways. After tabbing to it, use the arrow keys.
| AED | Exact location | Areas it serves | Hours it can be reached | Walk test time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AED 1 | ||||
| AED 2 | ||||
| AED 3 | ||||
| AED 4 | ||||
| AED 5 | ||||
| AED 6 |
From the QKC Health Workplace CPR and AED Readiness Toolkit. Use with the AHA Cardiac Emergency Response Plan template.
Worksheet: 911 and Internal Communication
The AHA template says to call 911 as soon as you suspect a sudden cardiac arrest, give the address, cross streets, and the person's condition, stay on the line, and send someone to meet EMS at the right door. It also says to alert team members the same way every time, such as by overhead page, radio, text, or phone. Print this worksheet and write your answers in the blank column.
| Item | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Street address to give 911 | |
| Nearest cross streets | |
| Entrance EMS should use | |
| Who meets EMS at the door | |
| How the team is alerted | |
| Backup alert method | |
| Local EMS agency and non-emergency phone | |
| Who notifies leadership | |
| Who calls the person's emergency contact | |
| Where the full plan is kept |
From the QKC Health Workplace CPR and AED Readiness Toolkit. Use with the AHA Cardiac Emergency Response Plan template.
Worksheet: Drill Log and Annual Review
The AHA template calls for at least one successful drill each year and recommends two or more. It defines a successful drill as a full response completed in 5 minutes or less, says one drill may be a tabletop exercise, and suggests inviting local EMS. Print this log and fill in one row for each drill.
On narrow screens, scroll the table sideways. After tabbing to it, use the arrow keys.
| Drill | Date | Live or tabletop | Minutes to complete | What to improve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drill 1 | ||||
| Drill 2 | ||||
| Drill 3 | ||||
| Drill 4 |
From the QKC Health Workplace CPR and AED Readiness Toolkit. Use with the AHA Cardiac Emergency Response Plan template.
Worksheet: Training Roster
The AHA template recommends that at least 10% of staff hold current CPR and AED certification and that training be renewed at least every two years. It sets an absolute minimum of 3 trained people, so one person can start CPR, one can get the AED, and one can call 911. AHA course cards show a Renew By month and year two years after the course and stay valid through the end of that month. To work out renewal dates, use our CPR renewal planner. Print this roster and fill in one row for each person.
On narrow screens, scroll the table sideways. After tabbing to it, use the arrow keys.
| Person | Team role | Course | Card issued (month and year) | Renew by (month and year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Person 1 | ||||
| Person 2 | ||||
| Person 3 | ||||
| Person 4 | ||||
| Person 5 | ||||
| Person 6 | ||||
| Person 7 | ||||
| Person 8 | ||||
| Person 9 | ||||
| Person 10 |
From the QKC Health Workplace CPR and AED Readiness Toolkit. Use with the AHA Cardiac Emergency Response Plan template.
Workplace First Aid Kit Checklist
Upkeep checks based on OSHA first aid rules and the ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 first aid kit standard. This list does not reproduce the standard's contents tables.
OSHA's first aid standard for general industry, 29 CFR 1910.151, requires adequate first aid supplies to be readily available. Where there is no infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace that is used to treat all injured employees, a person or persons must be adequately trained to render first aid. Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, the standard requires suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing within the work area.
OSHA's non-mandatory Appendix A points to the ANSI Z308.1 standard as an example of minimum first aid kit contents. It says employers should assess their own needs, add kits and supplies for larger or multiple operations, and provide protective equipment such as gloves where workers may be exposed to blood while using first aid supplies. The current edition is ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2026. It is a voluntary consensus standard, not an OSHA regulation. Use a workplace hazard assessment to select Class A or Class B kits and any additional supplies your site needs. The 2026 edition updates kit contents, including bilingual English and Spanish first aid guides, and expands guidance for mobile workers and supplemental supplies. See ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2026 first aid standard for the current edition and summary.
First Aid Kit Checklist and Log
Use one copy for each first aid kit or cabinet. ISEA advises inspecting kits at least monthly and after any first aid incident in which supplies are used.
On narrow screens, scroll the table sideways. After tabbing to it, use the arrow keys.
| Check | Date | Kit location | Checked by | Items restocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check 1 | ||||
| Check 2 | ||||
| Check 3 | ||||
| Check 4 | ||||
| Check 5 | ||||
| Check 6 | ||||
| Check 7 | ||||
| Check 8 | ||||
| Check 9 | ||||
| Check 10 | ||||
| Check 11 | ||||
| Check 12 |
From the QKC Health Workplace CPR and AED Readiness Toolkit. General information only; not OSHA compliance advice.
AED Laws in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey
Selected statutes for the states QKC Health serves, summarized from official state sources. This is not legal advice; have counsel review your AED program and plan.
The AHA's AED program guide says to research and follow your state's requirements for AED programs, including any registration and reporting rules, and to have legal counsel review your program. State laws change, so read the current text before you rely on these notes. They cover selected statutes only, not every rule that may apply to your organization.
Connecticut
- Liability protection: Connecticut's Good Samaritan law, General Statutes section 52-557b, says a person or entity that provides or maintains an AED is not liable for ordinary negligence in providing or maintaining it. The protection does not cover gross, wilful, or wanton negligence.
- Schools: section 10-212d requires each local and regional board of education to have an AED, and staff trained in AED use and CPR, at each school, unless funding is not available. Each school must also have an emergency action response plan for sudden cardiac arrest.
- Public golf courses: section 19a-197c requires each public golf course to keep at least one AED in a central location.
- Health clubs: since October 1, 2022, section 21a-223 requires a licensed health club, as a condition of its license, to keep at least one AED in a readily accessible location that its employees know about, have at least one employee trained in CPR and AED use under American Red Cross or American Heart Association standards on the premises during staffed business hours, maintain and test the AED according to the manufacturer's guidelines, and promptly notify a local EMS provider after each use.
Read the statutes on the Connecticut General Assembly website: section 52-557b, section 10-212d, section 19a-197c, and section 21a-223.
New York
- Who it covers: New York Public Health Law section 3000-b sets rules for a public access defibrillation provider, meaning a person or organization that keeps or operates an AED under that section.
- Training: the provider must offer AED and CPR training consistent with standards approved by the state health department, and must designate at least one person to be trained and to be familiar with the AED's operation and routine maintenance.
- Maintenance: the AED must be maintained and tested according to the standards of the manufacturer and any appropriate government agency.
- Registration and reporting: the provider must register the AED's existence, location, and type with the state health department, report every use of the AED right away to local EMS or the 911 center, and report AED use data to the department.
- Signs: a sign or notice at the main entrance must say where the AED is kept.
Two other New York laws require AEDs in certain places:
- Schools: Education Law section 917 requires school districts, boards of cooperative educational services, county vocational education and extension boards, and charter schools to provide and maintain AED equipment on site in each instructional school facility. They must also have at least one trained staff person present at school-sponsored athletic contests and other school events held in school facilities, and provide AED equipment on site at school-sponsored competitive athletic events held elsewhere.
- Health clubs: General Business Law section 627-a requires a health club with 50 or more members to keep at least one AED on the premises where staff, members, and guests can readily reach it, and to have at least one person with current AED and CPR certification present at all times during staffed business hours.
Read New York Public Health Law section 3000-b, Education Law section 917, and General Business Law section 627-a on the New York State Senate website. Check the current text and any state agency rules for effective dates.
New Jersey
- Anyone who acquires an AED: under N.J.S.A. 2A:62A-25, as amended in 2012, the acquirer must make sure that people expected to use the AED in their jobs or volunteer roles hold current CPR and AED certification from the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or another program the state recognizes; maintain and test the AED according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines; tell the local first aid, ambulance, or rescue squad or other EMS provider about the AED, its type, and its location; and, before buying it, give the prescribing physician documentation of a protocol for meeting these requirements.
- After a rescue: anyone who uses an AED must ask for emergency medical help as soon as practicable (N.J.S.A. 2A:62A-26).
- Liability protection: N.J.S.A. 2A:62A-27 gives civil immunity to people and entities that act in good faith and comply with these requirements. It does not cover gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
- Health clubs and schools: registered health clubs must have an AED and at least one certified employee on site during business hours (N.J.S.A. 2A:62A-31). Under Janet's Law, public and nonpublic K-12 schools must keep an AED in an unlocked location with a sign, have an emergency action plan for sudden cardiac events, and list at least 5 staff members with current CPR and AED certification.
Read P.L.2012, c.6, the 2012 law that amended New Jersey's AED statutes, and the New Jersey Department of Education's Janet's Law FAQ (PDF). Check the current statutes for later changes.
Which CPR and First Aid Course Fits Each Role?
Typical choices for the people in your plan, based on AHA course guidance. Your employer, licensing rules, or state requirements make the final call.
General Staff and Workplace Responders
Usually Heartsaver CPR AED. For workers outside healthcare who need CPR and AED training for their job, the AHA says Heartsaver CPR AED is probably the best fit. See Heartsaver CPR AED.
Designated First Aid Responders
Usually Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED. The AHA designs the full version of this course, which it calls Heartsaver Total, to meet OSHA and regulatory requirements; it says the Heartsaver Basic version does not generally meet workplace requirements. See first aid training.
Dental, Medical, and Clinical Staff
Usually BLS. The AHA designs BLS Provider for healthcare professionals and trained first responders. Non-clinical staff in the same office may only need a CPR AED card. See BLS certification options.
Schools, Coaches, and Childcare Staff
Usually Heartsaver CPR AED, or Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED when first aid is also required. The AHA designs Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED for child care workers; we do not list that course, so call us to confirm availability. See Connecticut childcare CPR requirements.
Response Team Members
Current CPR and AED training. The AHA CERP template says every team member should have current CPR and AED training from a nationally recognized organization, renewed at least every two years. Plan a session with our group CPR training planner.
Higher-Hazard Industries
Check your OSHA standard. OSHA specifically requires CPR training under some standards, including permit-required confined spaces, logging, electric power generation and transmission, and commercial diving. See the CPR course finder.
Confirm the course and card your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state rules require before you register.
Not sure which course fits? The CPR course finder suggests an AHA course by role, and BLS vs CPR explains the difference between the provider and lay rescuer courses. To schedule renewals for your roster, use the CPR renewal planner. To plan an on-site session for your team, use the group CPR training planner. OSHA does not certify or approve CPR or first aid courses, and it has said that online training alone does not meet its first aid and CPR training requirements.
Train Your Response Team With QKC Health
QKC Health is an AHA Authorized Training Center serving Fairfield County CT, Westchester County NY, and New Jersey. On-site classes are available for groups of 3 or more.
Workplace Training
QKC Health travels directly to your workplace to deliver CPR, First Aid, BLS certification, and ACLS training.
View Workplace TrainingHeartsaver CPR AED
Learn adult, child, and infant CPR along with AED use and choking relief. No prior training or medical background is required.
View Heartsaver CPR AED CourseFirst Aid Training
AHA Heartsaver First Aid classes, including Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, which combines first aid, CPR, AED use, and choking relief in one course.
View First Aid TrainingBLS Certification
Basic Life Support training for healthcare providers. Provider, Skills, and Renewal classes are available.
View BLS CertificationFor on-site classes, QKC Health brings the training equipment, including manikins and AED trainers, and your site provides a room large enough for participants to work on the floor during skills practice, with access to power. Most courses require a minimum of three participants. Sending the request form is a request for training, not a booking: a booking is confirmed only once QKC Health has confirmed the course, date, time, and location with you in writing, and prices are confirmed in writing before the class. To request training, call (212) 548-3284 or use the request training form and choose Workplace Training and your group size.
AED and Emergency Readiness: Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the schedule in your AED maker's instructions for use. The American Heart Association's AED program guide lists monthly AED checks among the program team's tasks, and its Cardiac Emergency Response Plan template says to check each AED according to its operating manual and keep a maintenance log. Between checks, anyone who passes the AED can glance at its status indicator and report a warning light or a chirping sound.
Use your AED maker's checklist if it provides one. A basic check confirms that the readiness indicator shows the AED is ready, the pads and battery are within their dates, a spare set of pads and rescue supplies such as gloves, a pocket mask, scissors, and a razor are with the AED, and the AED is unlocked, marked with signs, and easy to reach. Record each check in a log.
A cardiac emergency response plan, or CERP, is a written plan for responding to sudden cardiac arrest at a workplace, school, sports facility, or community site. The American Heart Association says a plan should set up a response team, share the plan and coordinate it with local EMS, place and maintain AEDs, keep staff trained in CPR and AED use, practice with drills, and be reviewed every year.
Yes. The American Heart Association offers a free Cardiac Emergency Response Plan template guide, a checklist, and a do-it-yourself toolkit at heart.org/CERP. The worksheets in this toolkit help you gather the names, locations, and contacts the template asks for. The AHA template says medical and legal counsel should review a plan before it is put in place.
OSHA requires adequate first aid supplies to be readily available, and its non-mandatory appendix points to the ANSI Z308.1 standard as an example of minimum kit contents. The current ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2026 edition is a voluntary standard with Class A and Class B kit requirements. Start with a hazard assessment, choose the appropriate kit, and add supplies for your site's risks. The checklist on this page covers upkeep and does not reproduce the full contents tables.
OSHA standards do not specifically address AEDs, but OSHA encourages employers to install them, and its workplace AED publication says to place them so a response can happen within 3 to 5 minutes. OSHA does require first aid supplies and, in some workplaces, trained first aid responders. State laws can require AEDs in certain places, such as schools and health clubs.
In some places. Connecticut requires AEDs at public schools, unless funding is not available, and at licensed health clubs and public golf courses. New York requires AEDs in school buildings used for instruction and in health clubs with 50 or more members, and sets training, maintenance, registration, and reporting rules for anyone who keeps an AED for public access. New Jersey requires AEDs in K-12 schools under Janet's Law and in registered health clubs. Laws change, so confirm current requirements with your legal counsel.
Sources
This toolkit summarizes the following official sources. Guidance, standards, and statutes were checked against them on October 17, 2026.
- Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERP) and Training, American Heart Association
- Cardiac Emergency Response Plan Checklist (PDF), American Heart Association
- Cardiac Emergency Response Plan Template Guide (PDF), American Heart Association
- AED Implementation, American Heart Association
- Your On-site AED Program: An Implementation Guide (PDF), American Heart Association
- 10 Steps to an Effective AED Program (PDF), American Heart Association
- 2025 AHA Guidelines, Part 4: Systems of Care, American Heart Association
- Course FAQs, American Heart Association
- Heartsaver Courses, American Heart Association
- BLS Course Options, American Heart Association
- Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Training, American Heart Association
- Course Card Information, American Heart Association
- Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), US Food and Drug Administration
- Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs): Overview, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs): Standards, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Saving Sudden Cardiac Arrest Victims in the Workplace, OSHA 3185 (PDF), Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- 29 CFR 1910.151, Medical Services and First Aid, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- 29 CFR 1910.151 Appendix A, First Aid Kits (Non-Mandatory), Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- OSHA Standard Interpretation, June 19, 2019, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- OSHA Standard Interpretation, February 23, 2023, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- OSHA Standard Interpretation, August 2, 2012, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2026 First Aid Standard, International Safety Equipment Association
- First Aid: Kit Selection and Maintenance, International Safety Equipment Association
- Connecticut General Statutes, section 52-557b, Connecticut General Assembly
- Connecticut General Statutes, section 10-212d, Connecticut General Assembly
- Connecticut General Statutes, section 19a-197c, Connecticut General Assembly
- Connecticut General Statutes, section 21a-223, Connecticut General Assembly
- New York Public Health Law, section 3000-b, New York State Senate
- New York Education Law, section 917, New York State Senate
- New York General Business Law, section 627-a, New York State Senate
- P.L.2012, c.6 (New Jersey AED statutes, as amended), New Jersey Legislature
- Janet's Law: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (PDF), New Jersey Department of Education
Last updated:
Disclaimer
General information only. This toolkit is general educational information about American Heart Association (AHA) courses. It is not medical, legal, or OSHA compliance advice. It does not replace hands-on CPR, BLS, or first aid training, and using it does not certify you in any course. In an emergency, call 911.
Accuracy. We strive to keep this toolkit accurate and current, but AHA guidelines, course content, card rules, and certification requirements can change, and we cannot promise that every detail is complete, current, or free of errors.
Check the official source. Before you rely on anything here, confirm course, card, and guideline details with the AHA at cpr.heart.org, and confirm what you are required to hold with your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state agency. If this toolkit differs from an official source, follow the official source. You are responsible for confirming which course and card you need before you register.
Spot an error? If anything on this page, or anywhere on our site, looks incorrect or out of date, please call us at (212) 548-3284 or send us a message through our contact page so we can review it and update it.
About the AHA. QKC Health LLC is an AHA Authorized Training Center. This toolkit is written and published by QKC Health, not by the AHA, and the AHA has not reviewed or endorsed it.
The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA courses and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the AHA.
Outside links and terms. Links to the AHA, OSHA, and other outside websites are provided for convenience. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content. Your use of this toolkit is subject to our Terms of Service, including its Limitation of Liability section and its notices for New Jersey and New York residents.
Printed from qkchealth.com/resources/workplace-aed-readiness-toolkit/. General information only, not medical, legal, or compliance advice. Always confirm requirements with the AHA (cpr.heart.org) and with your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state agency. Full terms: qkchealth.com/terms. More free tools and guides: qkchealth.com/resources.