Automated External Defibrillator Inspection and Inventory System
Manage automated external defibrillator inspections and inventories
Automated External Defibrillators and First Aid Kits
Summary
How to manage automated external defibrillators (AED) and first aid kits at Harvard.
Who is this for?
Building and operations management.
Automated external defibrillators at Harvard
AEDs are medical devices that can analyze heart rhythms and deliver an electrical shock to the heart if necessary, helping it start beating again.
Harvard has more than 300 AEDs throughout its buildings, childcare centers, police vehicles, and with its sports medicine and athletic trainers.
Schools, units, and departments can contact EHS to learn about the Harvard AED program, including how to install and maintain AEDs.
Managing first aid kits
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires workplaces not in close proximity to an infirmary, clinic, or hospital to:
- Retain at least one person adequately trained in first aid.
- Maintain appropriate first aid supplies.
Harvard workplaces in Greater Boston fulfill this requirement based on their reasonable proximity to emergency medical services and hospitals, but can still choose to provide first aid kits.
To decide if you should provide a first aid kit in your building or work area, evaluate factors like potential injury risks related to the area and work performed. Contact your Designated Safety Officer (DSO) for guidance.
Selecting and maintaining first aid kits
First aid kits are standardized by class:
- Class A kits are for most common workplace injuries.
- Class B kits are for injuries in more complex or high-risk environments and include a broader assortment and quantity of supplies.
When selecting and maintaining first aid kits in your building or work area:
- Only use kits that meet minimum requirements.
- Ensure each kit is readily available and the kit location is visibly marked. Labels and markings must be legible and permanent.
- Inspect and maintain kits regularly to ensure all supplies are present and in usable condition. Replace any supplies that are past their expiration date.
Minimum requirements for first aid kits
First aid kit containers are classified by portability, ability to be mounted, and resistance to water, corrosion, and impact.
For more information about Class A and Class B minimum supply requirements, review American National Standards Institute and the International Safety Equipment Association Z308.1-2021 Table 1, First Aid Kits and Supplies.
- For use in stationary, indoor settings with minimal risk of environmental damage or rough handling.
- Not intended to be portable.
- Can be mounted in a fixed position.
- Common examples include first aid cabinets, general indoor settings, offices, and manufacturing facilities.
- For portable use in indoor settings with minimal risk of environmental damage or rough handling.
- Equipped with a carrying handle.
- Common examples include general indoor settings, offices, and manufacturing environments.
- For portable use in mobile settings where environmental damage is unlikely.
- Can be mounted and has a water-resistant seal.
- Common examples include general indoor settings and sheltered outdoor settings.
- For portable use in mobile industries and outdoor settings with significant risk of environmental damage and rough handling.
- Common examples include the transportation industry, utility industry, and construction industry.
Related resources
Find documents and online tools to manage AEDs and first aid kits.
Construction Standard Specification: Automatic External Defibrillator Cabinets
Construction Safety Standard Specification (Section 104313) for automatic external defibrillator cabinets
EHS support
Contact EHS for more information about:
- Enrolling in the Harvard AED program and accessing program documentation.
- Installing and maintaining AEDs.
- First aid kit regulatory standards and minimum supply requirements.
- Recommended first aid supply vendors and examples of compliant first aid kits.