IS YOUR WORKPLACE READY FOR THE AED REGULATION?

ARTICLE 1 - (1) The purpose of this Regulation is to establish procedures and principles for the widespread use, placement, registration and tracking system, maintenance and repair, and minimum standards of portable automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in order to reduce the risk of death and disability through early and effective intervention at the scene during sudden cardiac arrests occurring outside healthcare facilities, until emergency medical personnel arrive.

ARTICLE 2 - (1) This Regulation covers public institutions and organizations, private establishments, public transportation vehicles, and public areas.

ARTICLE 3 - (1) This Regulation has been prepared based on Articles 356 and 508 of Presidential Decree No. 1 on the Organization of the Presidency.

ARTICLE 4 - (1) The following terms used in this Regulation refer to:

a) Sudden cardiac arrest: The sudden cessation of cardiac activity along with the sudden collapse of circulation due to disruption in the heart's electrical conduction system,

b) Ministry: The Ministry of Health,

c) Electrocardiography (ECG): The process of recording and analyzing the electrical activity produced by heart cells that enables the heart to function,

d) Lay rescuer: A person who is not a healthcare professional but is present at the scene during an emergency and provides first aid with the support of the Health Command and Control Center (HCCC) until medical assistance arrives,

e) First aid: Rapid and effective interventions performed at the scene with available resources in cases of sudden illness or injury, aimed at preserving the person's life, preventing deterioration of their health condition, and supporting their recovery,

f) First aider: A person who has received training in accordance with the standards set by the Ministry and holds a first aider certificate authorizing them to perform applications within the scope of the training provided,

g) AED acquirer: The person or institution that purchases the AED device,

h) AED user: Healthcare professionals, first aiders, and lay rescuers,

i) AED-Net: The software system where AED data is recorded and monitored by the Ministry,

j) Health Command and Control Center (HCCC): The unit within the 112 emergency call center in provinces where emergency health calls are received and ambulances are dispatched and managed,

k) Healthcare professional: Healthcare professionals as defined by Law No. 1219 dated April 11, 1928 on the Practice of Medicine and Its Branches, and the Regulation on Job and Task Descriptions of Healthcare Professionals published in the Official Gazette No. 29007 dated May 22, 2014,

l) Portable Automated External Defibrillator (AED): A portable device that analyzes heart rhythm and, when necessary, automatically delivers an electric current to the heart.

ARTICLE 5 - (1) The minimum standards for AEDs are as follows:

a) It is a portable, fully automatic device that analyzes heart rhythm through pads (electrodes) attached to the chest, detects fatal rhythm changes, determines rhythms requiring electroshock, and delivers electric current (shock) to the heart.

b) It must be registered as a medical device in the Ministry's Product Tracking System.

c) The AED must have voice command capability in at least Turkish and English language options.

d) The AED must have the capability to transfer its operational status, periodic test results, battery level, movement, location data, and ECG data to AED-Net.

e) AEDs within the Ministry of National Defense, Gendarmerie General Command, Coast Guard Command, General Directorate of Security, General Directorate of Customs Enforcement, and other public institutions and organizations with duties and authorities within the scope of national security are not required to transmit their location data to AED-Net.

ARTICLE 6 - (1) AEDs may be placed in areas where the public gathers in large numbers, for use in emergencies, to reduce the risk of death and disability due to out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests.

(2) The placement and installation of AEDs for effective and efficient use shall be done as follows:

a) In accordance with international guidelines, they shall be located in positions accessible in the shortest time during emergencies.

b) Population density shall be taken into account.

c) They shall be positioned at a height visible and accessible to everyone.

d) The AED location shall be indicated with warning signs. Warning signs shall be placed at points that will enable the AED to be located in an emergency.

e) They shall be kept in a protective case that can be easily opened in an emergency. The AED shall not be placed out of the field of vision or in a locked area.

f) Priority shall be given to ensuring accessibility and proximity to trained users such as security guards, security personnel, and lifeguards.

g) The AED shall be kept in a protective cabinet that has heat, humidity, dust, and rain protection, is alarmed, can be easily opened at the time of the incident, and is in a standard and distinguishable color.

h) The usage instructions of the AED shall be indicated on the protective cabinet with visual and written warnings.

(3) It is mandatory to have AEDs at the locations listed in ANNEX-1. The minimum number of AEDs and placement principles at the locations where AEDs are to be placed shall be determined by the Ministry.

ARTICLE 7 - (1) Healthcare professionals, first aiders, and lay rescuers may use the AED.

(2) After the AED is used or when a warning is received from AED-Net, restoring the AED to usable condition as soon as possible, supplying consumable materials and AED maintenance, preserving the data records in the AED after use, and delivering them to the provincial health directorate in the province where it is located, are the responsibilities of the AED acquirer.

ARTICLE 8 - (1) A national registration system shall be established by the Ministry for tracking AEDs and data flow. System integration and the IT infrastructure of the system shall be done in accordance with the AED integration and IT guide to be published by the Ministry.

(2) The purchased AED shall be registered in AED-Net within thirty days. Registration of the AED in AED-Net is the responsibility of the AED acquirer.

(3) The AED acquirer shall register the serial number, installation location, position, and floor information of the AED in the system.

(4) Data in AED-Net shall be stored in accordance with relevant legislation.

(5) Keeping the AED in a ready-to-use condition is the responsibility of the AED acquirer.

(6) The AED must be purchased by the AED acquirer from companies holding a medical device sales center authorization certificate. The medical device sales center from which the AED is procured is required to make the necessary individual notification processes on the Ministry's Product Tracking System for the AED sold to the AED acquirer.

ARTICLE 9 - (1) The Ministry is authorized to resolve any uncertainties that may arise in the implementation of this Regulation.

ARTICLE 10 - (1) This Regulation enters into force on January 1, 2026.

ARTICLE 11 - (1) The provisions of this Regulation are executed by the Minister of Health.