Increased public access to automated external defibrillators took a step closer to reality when the U.S. Senate passed the Cardiac Arrest Survival Act just before its adjournment in November 1999.

The legislation instructs the Department of Health and Human Services to make recommendations to promote public access to defibrillation programs in federal buildings and other public buildings across the country. The bill also extends Good Samaritan protections to aed users and the acquirers of the devices in those states that don't currently have aed Good Samaritan protections.

There are major differences between the Senate version of the aed bill and a House version passed earlier in 1999. An American Heart Association spokesperson said it's more likely that the House will act on the Senate version, rather than sending the two differing versions to a House-Senate conference committee.

The Congressional Fire Services Institute mounted a grassroots campaign in early November, urging members of the fire service to contact their senators in support of the aed legislation. For more information, contact the American Heart Association at 202-785-7900.