Senate passes Sen. Deschambault bill to create public registry of AEDs
AUGUSTA — On Wednesday, the Maine Senate voted in favor of a bill from Sen. Susan Deschambault, D-Biddeford, to create a registry of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). LD 797, “An Act To Create a Registry To Improve Access to Automated External Defibrillators,” received unanimous support in the Senate.
“The idea for this bill came from a constituent of mine,” said Sen. Deschambault. “She, unfortunately, lost her husband to cardiac arrest while he was in a pharmacy. She believes that if they had access to an AED in his moment of crisis, he might have been alive today. LD 797 has a simple purpose, but it could have a major impact on Mainers’ safety.”
LD 797 would create a registry of AEDs that are publicly accessible so laypeople and emergency responders alike can find out where these AEDs are located in an emergency. The Department of Public Safety would be responsible for maintaining this registry.
Sen. Deschambault submitted a similar bill during the 129th Legislature, LD 1169, which passed in the House and the Senate, but ultimately was called back from the Governor’s desk and died when the Legislature adjourned early due to COVID-19.
LD 797 faces further votes in the Legislature.
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