Delaware Code Title 16. Health and Safety § 3001C. Findings and purpose

The General Assembly of the State has found that each year more than 350,000 Americans experience out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest.  More than 95% of them die.  In many cases, people die because life-saving defibrillators arrive on the scene too late, if at all.  It is estimated that more than 100,000 deaths could be prevented each year if defibrillators were more widely available to designated users (responders).  Many communities around the country have invested in 911 emergency response systems, emergency personnel and ambulance vehicles.  However, many of these same communities do not have enough defibrillators.  It is therefore the intent of this General Assembly to encourage greater acquisition, deployment and use of automated external defibrillators in communities within the State.