Highland Beach to study AED placement, chiefs and commissioners weigh costs and liability

Commissioners discussed whether to require automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in multifamily and high-rise buildings and asked staff to gather public input and more detailed draft language. One commissioner urged the town to follow Delray Beach's ordinance approach for taller buildings (placing AEDs on every other floor above a threshold); another commissioner stressed tailoring any rule to building configuration and security arrangements.

Fire Chief Glenn Joseph told the commission the department's calls are predominantly medical and that vertical travel time can materially reduce survivability in cardiac events: "American Heart Association says for every 4 or 5 floors that are above ground level, your survivability goes down by about 1% every minute," he said, and he recommended training and local AED availability. Commissioners discussed estimated AED costs ($1,300—$1,900 apiece), maintenance cycles for pads and batteries, Good Samaritan liability protections in Florida, and the possibility of grants or community-funded purchases. The commission directed staff to continue the conversation, solicit public input and return with draft options that consider building size, security and liability protections.