CBS Boston: Massachusetts seeks to expand access to AEDs

In December, a Reading man survived a cardiac arrest after collapsing at an ice rink due to the swift action of the rink’s employees.

That man, James Liston, pulled through because the rink had an automated external defibrillator, and the rink’s employees knew how to use it. Rink employees were also trained in CPR.

Liston’s story is rare.

Only 1 in 10 people who have cardiac arrests in public get this type of help. One of the reasons is that many businesses are not required to have an AED, or if they do, people do not know where it is located.

This week, CBS Boston’s Chief Investigative Reporter Cheryl Fiandaca delved into the state’s current regulations concerning AED accessibility, shedding light on the pressing need for legislative reform in this area. Watch the story below.