Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can strike without warning, even in places dedicated to health and fitness. But having an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on-site empowers your staff to step in with confidence and potentially save a life before help arrives.
The good news? AEDs are simple to use, surprisingly affordable, and becoming an essential part of fitness centre safety across Canada.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through why your fitness centre needs an AED, how regulations vary by province, and why AEDs in your fitness centre can protect your members and strengthen your community.
This article was updated and republished on June 16th, 2025.
AED Requirements for Fitness Centres by Province
AED legislation varies across Canada. Because of this, it’s important for gym owners and managers to understand what’s required or expected in their region.
While some provinces have clear laws mandating AEDs in public facilities, others rely on general workplace safety guidelines.
Here’s a breakdown by province:
Manitoba
Status: AEDs are mandatory in gyms and other high-traffic public spaces.
Under the Defibrillator Public Access Act, Manitoba requires fitness centres to install and register AEDs with the provincial database. This law is one of the most comprehensive in Canada, helping ensure quick access during emergencies.
Ontario
Status: Legislation is in place, but full enforcement is pending.
Bill 141, the Defibrillator Registration and Public Access Act, received royal assent in 2020. This means the law exists but is not yet enforced. Once it is, it will require AEDs in designated public locations, including gyms. The supporting regulations are still being finalized, so it's wise to prepare now.
Alberta
Status: No direct law, but a clear expectation of responsibility.
Alberta doesn’t mandate AEDs in fitness centres. However, employers are expected to take reasonable steps to protect health and safety. For many gyms, that includes installing an AED as part of standard emergency preparedness.
British Columbia
Status: No legal requirement exists, but strong recommendations are in place.
AED placement is encouraged by WorkSafeBC, especially in workplaces where the risk of cardiac events may be elevated. Fitness centres fall into that category due to the physical demands of exercise.
Other Provinces and Territories
Status: Requirements vary, but due diligence is key.
Most other regions don’t have specific laws requiring AEDs in gyms. However, general health and safety regulations still apply. It’s always a good idea to consult your local public health or occupational safety authority to stay compliant and protect your members.
Why You Should Have an AED In Your Gym
Wondering why your fitness centre needs an AED? Equipping your gym with an AED is a smart precaution. It's a powerful way to demonstrate leadership and create a safer space for everyone who walks through your doors. Here’s why it matters.
SCA Is More Common Than You Think
More than 60.000 Canadians experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year. The COVID-19 pandemic has only increased cardiovascular risk factors. Unfortunately, many of these events result in death simply because an AED wasn’t available. Having one on-site in your fitness facility gives your members a fighting chance.
Strenuous Exercise Raises Short-Term Risk of SCA
Strenuous workouts can trigger SCA in individuals with undiagnosed heart conditions.
While these events are rare, they’re more common in fitness environments than most people realize. Studies have shown that many sudden cardiac arrests occurring in public indoor settings take place in gyms, pools, and sports facilities, environments where intense exertion and underlying heart conditions can intersect unexpectedly.[1]
This doesn’t mean exercise is dangerous. It simply reinforces the importance of being prepared.
Having AEDs in your facility helps bridge the gap between when an incident happens and when paramedics arrive. It ensures that your fitness centre doesn’t just promote good health, but is fully equipped to protect it in a crisis.
AEDs Improve Survival Odds in Fitness Centres
When it comes to cardiac arrest, survival rates nearly double with the use of CPR and an AED.[2] Fitness centres that are equipped with AEDs consistently report higher survival rates after cardiac events, and it’s easy to see why.
These devices guide you through every step, even if you’re untrained, with clear voice and visual prompts. When AEDs are placed in high-traffic areas, such as weight rooms, your team can act quickly and without hesitation.
Pairing accessible AEDs with CPR-trained staff creates an effective first response. Your team can act quickly, often stabilizing someone well before paramedics arrive. It’s a small investment with a powerful, life-saving impact.
Legal Requirements and Duty of Care
Canadian law recognizes a business’s responsibility to take reasonable precautions to protect customers from foreseeable risks, known as a “duty of care.” In the context of fitness centres, this increasingly includes having a well-maintained AED on-site.
Having an AED visibly installed in your gym sends a clear message: you care about your community. It shows your facility is proactive, prepared, and focused on safety.
In an emergency, that kind of readiness can make all the difference. It also shows your members—and the law—that you take responsibility seriously.
Liability Protection
Beyond saving lives, AEDs can also protect your business. In Canada, facilities with AED programs may qualify for lower insurance premiums and are often in a stronger position to defend against legal claims related to cardiac emergencies.
In today’s environment, being unprepared can carry serious financial and reputational consequences. However, by taking proactive safety measures such as installing an AED, training staff, and maintaining emergency protocols, you’re safeguarding your members and your business.
Practical Steps to Establish an Effective AED Program
Establishing an effective AED program in your fitness centre requires careful planning, implementation, and ongoing management.
By following a series of practical steps, you can ensure that your AED program is robust, well-integrated, and capable of delivering timely assistance during cardiac emergencies.
Let's explore each step in detail:
1. Selecting the Right AED
Choosing the right AED is the foundation of an effective emergency response plan. For fitness centres, that means finding a device that’s simple to operate, built to last, and tailored to your environment.
Look for models with clear voice and visual instructions, so staff or gym members can respond quickly in high-pressure situations. Features such as durability and low maintenance requirements are especially important in busy, high-traffic facilities.
Not sure where to start? The team at AED Advantage is here to help. We’ll walk you through your options, explain what matters most for your setting, and make sure you feel confident in your choice, from first aid rooms to cardio zones.
You can also check out our AED Buying Guide for more information.
2. Training Staff
Having an AED is great, but your team also needs the confidence to use it. That’s where training comes in.
Make sure your staff is trained to recognize when to use an AED and perform CPR and basic life support. As part of our AED Management Program, we offer support with training, maintenance reminders, compliance tracking, and more.
Refresher courses are just as important. Regular practice helps reinforce skills and ensures that everyone stays calm, capable, and ready to act in an emergency. When your staff feels prepared, your members feel safer, and that trust can make all the difference.
3. Creating an Emergency Response Plan
In a cardiac emergency, clarity and coordination are crucial for saving lives. A well-documented emergency response plan ensures that everyone knows exactly what to do without hesitation.
Your plan should outline clear steps for recognizing the emergency, calling 911, initiating CPR, and retrieving and using the AED. Assign specific roles to staff members, ranging from directing emergency services to managing crowd control or assisting with the use of AEDs.
For a detailed breakdown, check out our article on the seven essential steps for using an AED.
4. Maintaining and Testing AEDs
An AED can only save a life if it’s ready to work when it’s needed. That’s why regular maintenance isn’t just a good practice, it’s essential.
Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to set up a consistent schedule for checking battery levels, inspecting electrodes, and replacing AED parts before they expire. Assign a reliable team member to take ownership of these tasks and keep a log of all maintenance activities.
Periodic spot checks are also a smart habit. Make sure each device is accessible, fully charged, and showing a ready status.
5. Educating Members
Your AED program is most effective when everyone at your gym knows it exists and understands its purpose.
Make AED awareness part of your gym’s culture. Use clear and visible AED signage to indicate the location of AEDs throughout the facility. Consider adding posters, digital screens, or brief walkthroughs during member onboarding to reinforce their importance.
You can also host quick info sessions, hand out flyers, or share short tips on social media or in newsletters. A little knowledge goes a long way, especially in high-stress situations.
6. Integration with Safety Protocols
An AED program works best when it’s fully integrated into your gym’s overall safety strategy, rather than being treated as a standalone effort.
Work closely with your facility’s safety or operations team to ensure AEDs are included in all emergency response plans, evacuation procedures, and staff training. Make sure everyone, from front desk staff to management, knows how AEDs fit into broader protocols.
Review these plans regularly and update them to reflect current best practices and provincial guidelines. A well-integrated approach not only enhances readiness but also demonstrates to your members that safety is a top priority at every level of your organization.
Make Your Fitness Centre Safer One AED at a Time
Implementing an AED program is about fostering a culture of care, preparedness, and accountability. When you understand the risks of sudden cardiac arrest and take steps to prepare your facility, you’re not only protecting your members, you’re empowering your team to save lives.
Whether it’s meeting legal requirements or simply going above and beyond for your community, an AED is one of the most impactful safety tools you can invest in.
It shows your commitment to health and builds trust with every person who walks through your doors.
Ready to take action? Contact us today to discover why your fitness centre needs an AED and receive expert guidance on selecting the right device and training your team.
References
[1] Marijon, E., Tafflet, M., Celermajer, D. S., Dumas, F., Perier, M. C., Mustafic, H., ... & Jouven, X. (2011). Sports-related sudden death in the general population. Circulation, 124(6), 672–681. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.110.008979
[2] Weisfeldt, M. L., Sitlani, C. M., Ornato, J. P., Rea, T., Aufderheide, T. P., Davis, D., Dreyer, J., Hess, E. P., Jui, J., Maloney, J., Sopko, G., Powell, J., Nichol, G., Morrison, L. J., & the ROC Investigators. (2010). Survival after application of automatic external defibrillators before arrival of the emergency medical system: Evaluation in the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium population of 21 million. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 55(16), 1713–1720. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3008654/
