Defibrillator in a training centre: obligations and organisation

A training centre that receives trainees and visitors generally falls under the regime of establishments open to the public, known in France as ERP (établissements recevant du public). This classification depends on the type of activity and on the capacity, all occupants included. The obligation to install an automated external defibrillator, or DAE (AED), stems from loi 2018-527 and décret 2018-1186 (the 2018 French law and decree): ERP of categories 1 to 3 have been equipped since 1 January 2020, category 4 since 2021, and some category 5 ERP since 2022.

If your organisation rents rooms in a shared building, the question of responsibility arises. You need to identify who is the operator of the ERP in the regulatory sense, since that person carries the equipment and maintenance obligation. When in doubt, a written exchange with the owner or the site manager avoids grey areas.

Around 50,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest each year in France, without warning and regardless of age or profile. In a training centre you meet young apprentices, adults retraining, employees sent on courses and experienced trainers. The mix of audiences makes the event unpredictable.

Practical training adds particular situations: physical effort in workshops, exam stress, long days in sometimes crowded rooms. Without claiming that these contexts cause a cardiac arrest on their own, they justify having an accessible device, because each minute without defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by about 10%.

The device must be visible, accessible at all times during opening hours and quick to reach from any room. A reception desk or entrance hall often meets these criteria, provided the route does not cross locked doors. On a site with several buildings or floors, a single device may not be enough.

Signage must comply with the arrêté du 29 novembre 2018 (the French ministerial order of 29 November 2018): a pictogram at the device location and arrows from the main circulation routes. The cabinet, indoor or outdoor depending on the layout, protects the equipment while keeping it accessible. Do not forget the registration in GéoDAE, which is mandatory, so that emergency services can locate the device.

Maintenance is the operator's responsibility, in accordance with article R. 5212-25 du Code de la santé publique (the French Public Health Code). In practice this means regularly checking the condition of the device, tracking expiry dates and replacing consumables on time. Electrodes last 2 to 5 years, batteries 3 to 5 years, and the DAE (AED) itself 8 to 10 years and more.

A referent appointed within the team, for example the administrative management or the facilities manager, must check the self-test indicator and record the checks in a log. To avoid oversights during holiday periods, the maintenance contract can cover this follow-up. With rental, from 50 € excl. VAT per month, maintenance is included.

A training centre has one advantage: it knows how to organise sessions. Offering its own teams an awareness course on life-saving gestures, or a workplace first-aider course (sauveteur secouriste du travail), prepares everyone to react: alert the emergency services, perform chest compressions and use the DAE (AED). The defibrillator is designed to be used by a non-professional, but preparation reduces hesitation.

It is useful to include the device in the induction of new trainers and to remind trainees, during the tour of the premises, where the device is. An annual simulation exercise, with a call to the emergency services and retrieval of the device, keeps the right reflexes sharp.

Buying suits organisations that prefer to control their own fleet and manage consumables themselves, with a 5-year warranty. Rental, from 50 € excl. VAT per month with maintenance included, suits those who want a smoothed budget and delegated follow-up, especially when the centre has several sites.

In both cases, allow delivery within 2 to 5 working days. A quote is provided within 24 hours, which makes it possible to compare the options quickly before deciding, without waiting for the next start of the academic year.