AED Locations in Denver: Where to Find Them and How to Use Them
Last Updated: February 21, 2026
An automated external defibrillator (AED) can restore normal heart rhythm during cardiac arrest. When combined with CPR, AED use can push survival rates above 40%. Denver has AEDs in gyms, schools, government buildings, airports, sports facilities, and an increasing number of public spaces, but finding one quickly during an emergency requires knowing where to look.
Learn AED operation in our hands-on CPR classes.
Where AEDs Are Commonly Located in Denver
Government buildings: Denver city and county buildings, libraries, and community centers
Schools: Colorado law (David's Law, C.R.S. 22-1-125) encourages AEDs in every public school and athletic complex
Gyms and fitness centers: Most commercial gyms, including the VASA location where Mark Reynolds was saved in 2022, maintain on-site AEDs
Denver International Airport: Multiple AEDs throughout terminals
Sports venues: Ball Arena, Empower Field at Mile High, Coors Field
University campuses: CU Denver/Anschutz placed AEDs in lobbies of all occupied buildings
Corporate offices: Many larger employers maintain AEDs as part of their safety programs
How to Find the Nearest AED
PulsePoint app: The PulsePoint National Emergency AED Registry (NEAR) is the primary tool for locating registered AEDs in Colorado. Download the free PulsePoint Respond app to see AED locations near you.
Ask during emergencies: When you call 911, dispatchers may be able to direct you to the nearest registered AED. Some dispatch centers are connected to AED registry data.
Look for signs: AEDs are typically mounted in wall cabinets with clear signage (green heart symbol or "AED" lettering). Common locations within buildings include lobbies, hallways near elevators, cafeterias, and athletic facilities.
How to Use an AED (It Is Easier Than You Think)
AEDs are designed to be used by anyone, including people with no medical training. Every AED provides step-by-step voice prompts:
- Turn on the AED (press the power button or open the lid)
- Expose the person's chest
- Peel the adhesive pads and place them as shown in the diagrams on the pads (one on the upper right chest, one on the lower left side)
- The AED automatically analyzes the heart rhythm
- If a shock is advised, the AED tells you to press the shock button (some models deliver the shock automatically)
- Resume CPR immediately after the shock
- The AED will re-analyze every 2 minutes
You cannot accidentally shock someone who does not need it. The AED will only advise or deliver a shock when it detects a shockable rhythm (ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia). If no shockable rhythm is present, the AED will tell you to continue CPR without shocking.
Do you still need CPR training if you have an AED at home?
Colorado AED Legal Requirements
Colorado law (C.R.S. 13-21-108.1) requires AED owners to ensure expected users receive CPR/AED training, AEDs are maintained per manufacturer guidelines with written records, written deployment plans are reviewed by a licensed physician, and local EMS is notified of the AED's existence and location.
However, untrained bystanders are explicitly protected. Section 13-21-108.1(5) exempts Good Samaritans from all formal AED program requirements during a medical emergency. You do not need training to use an AED legally in an emergency.
Colorado's Good Samaritan law protections for CPR and AED rescuers.
The Strongest Combination: CPR Plus AED
CPR alone doubles or triples survival. Adding early AED use pushes survival rates dramatically higher. The two interventions work as a team: CPR maintains circulation while waiting for the AED, and the AED corrects the heart rhythm that CPR alone cannot fix.
Learning both skills takes just a few hours. Every AHA-certified CPR class at CPR-Professionals includes AED training with hands-on practice using AED trainers.
