ASF Standards · Fitness & Wellness · Standard 3

Standard 3 — Emergency Preparedness & Cardiac Event Response

5 criteria · 4 non-negotiable · 1 core · Version 3.0

Criteria in this standard

3.1 — An AED Is Genuinely Within a Two-Minute Round Trip of Every Exercise Area
3.2 — AED Function Is Verified Through Regular, Documented Maintenance Checks
3.3 — Every Staff Member Present Can Actually Use the AED and Perform CPR
3.4 — A Cardiac Event Triggers an Immediate, Practiced Response, Not Improvisation
3.5 — Post-Event Review Genuinely Examines Response Time and Outcome

3.1

An AED Is Genuinely Within a Two-Minute Round Trip of Every Exercise Area

Non-Negotiable

An automated external defibrillator is genuinely positioned within a two-minute walking round trip of every area where exercise takes place, verified directly by physically walking the actual route, not estimated or assumed from the facility's general layout.

In plain terms: An AED is within a two-minute round trip of every place people exercise — measured by walking it, not by looking at a floor plan.

Facility category	Crisis	Transition	Small	Standard
Applicability	Full	Full	Full	Full

Why this matters

Survival from cardiac arrest falls by about 10% for every minute without defibrillation. An AED reached in four minutes gives a fair chance; in eight minutes, almost none. 'We have an AED' means nothing if it is at reception on the ground floor and the collapse is in the top-floor studio behind two doors. The two-minute round trip — from the exercise area to the AED and back — must be walked and timed from the furthest point of every exercise area. If it exceeds two minutes, a second AED is needed. Large or multi-floor facilities typically need several.

What good looks like

An AED is genuinely within a verified two-minute round trip of every exercise area.
Distance has been physically walked and timed, not just estimated.
Large or multi-floor facilities have multiple AEDs genuinely covering every area.

Common failure modes

AED placement exceeds a two-minute round trip from some exercise areas.
Distance is estimated from a floor plan, never physically verified.
A single AED serves a large facility, leaving some areas genuinely uncovered.

Worked example

In practice

A 1,800-member fitness centre on three floors with one AED at reception.

BeforeThe single AED was at reception. The Coordinator timed the round trip from the third-floor studio: 4 minutes 40 seconds including stairs and doors. From the pool: 3 minutes 10 seconds. The facility believed it was covered.

ActionRound trips were timed from the furthest point of every exercise area. Two additional AEDs were installed (third floor, pool area). All round trips are now under two minutes. AED locations are marked on signage in every area and on the floor plan at reception. The timing is repeated annually and after any layout change.

AfterThe Monitor walked and timed the round trip from four locations: all under two minutes. Reviewed the timing records and signage. Verified.

If you are starting from zero — do this first

Walk from the furthest corner of each exercise area to the AED and back. Time it.
Any round trip over two minutes needs another AED.
Install and mark them.
Re-time annually.

The most common mistake: One AED at reception for a three-floor facility.

Self-assessment questions

1. Is an AED genuinely positioned within a two-minute walking round trip of every area where exercise occurs? — A real, verified distance, not an estimate based on general facility layout.
Evidence: AED placement verification

2. Has this distance been physically walked and timed, not just measured on a floor plan? — Real, physical verification, not a theoretical calculation.
Evidence: N/A — tested directly

3. For a multi-floor or large facility, are multiple AEDs positioned to genuinely meet this standard everywhere, not just near the main entrance? — Genuine, complete coverage of every exercise area, not concentrated in one convenient location.
Evidence: Multi-AED coverage documentation

Common reasons for a PARTIAL answer

Coverage is adequate for the main gym floor but not verified for a separate studio or outdoor training area. — Every genuine exercise area deserves the same real coverage, not only the primary space.
The route was walked once at installation but hasn't been reverified after any layout change. — A layout change can genuinely alter real walking distance, and verification needs to reflect current conditions.
Coverage is adequate during normal hours but not reassessed for areas open during reduced staffing.

Implementation plan

When	What
Week 1	Physically walk and time the actual route from every exercise area to the nearest AED.
Week 2	Address any area exceeding the two-minute round trip standard.
Week 3	For larger facilities, position additional AEDs to achieve genuine, complete coverage.
Ongoing	Reverify distances after any facility layout change.

How the Monitor verifies this

Method	What	Detail
OBSERVE	Physical distance verification	Physically walks the route from each exercise area to the nearest AED and times the actual round trip.
DOCUMENT	Placement documentation review	Reviews AED placement records and facility layout for genuine two-minute coverage.
OBSERVE	Multi-area coverage check	Confirms coverage extends to every exercise area in a large or multi-floor facility, not just the primary space.

Supervisor tips

Physically walk the route from the furthest exercise area to the nearest AED and time it directly. — Direct, physical verification is the only real evidence of genuine coverage, not a floor-plan estimate.
Ask about coverage for any less obvious exercise area, like an outdoor space or a separate studio. — This is where coverage gaps most commonly hide.

Evidence base

[11] A study of sudden cardiac arrest across 252 sports facilities over 18 years found neurologically intact survival rates of 93 percent in centres with an on-site AED compared with 9 percent in centres without one, with on-site AED presence the only independent predictor of survival in multivariate analysis.

ASF training courses on GMJ Academy →

Foundation courses A-00 to A-03 are live. Criterion-specific modules are being developed and will link here when published.

3.2

AED Function Is Verified Through Regular, Documented Maintenance Checks

Non-Negotiable

The AED's function is genuinely verified through regular, documented checks — battery status, pad expiration, device readiness — not assumed functional because it's present, given most AED models lack built-in connectivity and require active, manual verification.

In plain terms: The AED is checked on a schedule — battery, pads in date, readiness light — and the checks are written down.

Facility category	Crisis	Transition	Small	Standard
Applicability	Full	Full	Full	Full

Why this matters

An AED with a dead battery or expired pads is a box on the wall. Batteries last two to five years; pads expire; the self-test indicator must be looked at. A weekly visual check (readiness indicator, pads present, expiry date) and a monthly documented check (battery status, pad expiry, accessories, cabinet alarm) by a named person, with expiries tracked and replacements ordered ahead, keeps the AED usable. The log is the evidence; a facility without one does not know.

What good looks like

AED function is genuinely, regularly checked and documented.
Battery status and pad expiration are specifically, actively verified.
A real, defined response addresses any identified issue immediately.

Common failure modes

AED function is assumed adequate simply because the device is present.
Checks, if they happen, don't specifically verify battery or pad status.
An identified issue doesn't trigger any specific, resulting response.

Worked example

In practice

A 1,400-member fitness centre with two AEDs and no check schedule.

BeforeAEDs were 'looked at sometimes.' One had pads expired 14 months earlier. The other's battery indicator showed low. No log existed.

ActionA weekly visual check (readiness light, pads present, seal intact) by the duty manager, logged. A monthly detailed check (battery, pad expiry, accessories, cabinet) by the fitness manager, logged. Expiry dates in a tracker with 90-day reordering. Expired pads and low battery were replaced. A service contract for annual maintenance.

AfterThe Monitor inspected both AEDs (ready, pads in date), reviewed 12 weeks of logs, and the expiry tracker. Verified.

If you are starting from zero — do this first

Open each AED cabinet now. Is the readiness light green? Are the pads in date?
Start a weekly visual check log.
Track pad and battery expiry with 90-day reorder.
Name a person responsible.

The most common mistake: An AED nobody has opened since it was installed.

Self-assessment questions

1. Is AED function genuinely verified through regular, documented checks, not assumed from presence alone? — Real, scheduled, documented verification, not an assumption the device works because it's there.
Evidence: AED maintenance check record

2. Are battery status and pad expiration specifically checked, not just general device presence? — Specific, genuine verification of these particular components, not a general glance at the device.
Evidence: N/A — tested directly

3. Is there a specific, immediate process for what happens if a check identifies a problem? — A real, defined response, not a problem identified without resulting action.
Evidence: Maintenance issue response process

Common reasons for a PARTIAL answer

Checks happen but not on a consistently maintained monthly schedule. — A consistent, regular schedule is what makes verification genuinely reliable, not occasional attention.
Battery status is checked but pad expiration dates are less consistently verified. — Both components need genuine, specific verification for the device to actually function when needed.
Checks are documented but the documentation isn't reviewed to confirm checks are actually happening as scheduled.

Implementation plan

When	What
Week 1	Review current AED maintenance practice for genuine, regular, documented checks.
Week 2	Establish a monthly check schedule specifically verifying battery and pad status.
Week 3	Build a defined, immediate response process for any identified issue.
Ongoing	Confirm checks are genuinely occurring as scheduled through documentation review.

How the Monitor verifies this

Method	What	Detail
DOCUMENT	Maintenance check record review	Reviews documented, regular AED maintenance checks for genuine, specific verification.
OBSERVE	Current device check	Physically checks the AED's actual current battery and pad status.
DOCUMENT	Issue response review	Reviews the process for responding to an identified maintenance issue.

Supervisor tips

Ask to see the actual, current maintenance log and physically check the device's current status. — A real, current record compared against actual device status reveals genuine verification, not assumed function.
Ask what happens specifically if a check reveals an expired pad. — A specific, confident answer reveals a genuine response process, not an assumption it would be handled.

Evidence base

[12] Most AED models lack built-in connectivity to report their own status, establishing regular, manual verification of battery status, pad expiration, and device readiness as necessary practice, distinct from assumed functionality based on presence alone.

ASF training courses on GMJ Academy →

Foundation courses A-00 to A-03 are live. Criterion-specific modules are being developed and will link here when published.

3.3

Every Staff Member Present Can Actually Use the AED and Perform CPR

Non-Negotiable

Every staff member present during operating hours — not only certified instructors — is genuinely trained and able to use the AED and perform CPR, not limited to whichever certified instructor happens to be nearby when a cardiac event occurs.

In plain terms: Everyone on duty — reception, cleaner, sales, not just instructors — can use the AED and do CPR, and has practised.

Facility category	Crisis	Transition	Small	Standard
Applicability	Full	Full	Adapted	Full

Why this matters

The person nearest the collapse may be the receptionist. If only instructors are trained, the receptionist runs to find one while the member's brain goes without oxygen. Every staff member on the premises during opening hours — including part-time, evening, and weekend staff — must be trained and confident. AEDs are designed for lay use; the training is a few hours; the drills keep it fresh. The standard is 'every staff member present,' not 'someone in the building.'

What good looks like

Every staff member present, not only instructors, is genuinely trained and capable.
Training is genuinely current across all staff roles.
Non-instructor staff report genuine confidence responding to a cardiac event.

Common failure modes

CPR/AED capability is limited to certified instructors alone.
Training has lapsed for staff outside direct instruction roles.
Non-instructor staff express genuine uncertainty about responding.

Worked example

In practice

A 1,500-member fitness centre where CPR/AED training was for instructors only.

BeforeReception, sales, and cleaning staff had no training. On a Sunday evening with one instructor on site, a member collapsed near reception; the receptionist did not know where the AED was or how to start CPR; the instructor was in a studio two floors up.

ActionAll staff — every role, every shift — completed CPR/AED training funded by the facility, with certification tracked. New staff are trained within their first month, before solo shifts. Quarterly drills involve whoever is on duty. AED locations are covered at induction for everyone.

AfterThe Monitor reviewed training records for all 42 staff (100% current) and asked a cleaner and a receptionist to locate the AED and describe the first steps; both did. Verified.

If you are starting from zero — do this first

List every staff member and whether they have CPR/AED training. Include cleaners and reception.
Train everyone.
Train new staff before their first solo shift.
Include all roles in drills.

The most common mistake: Training instructors only — the receptionist is the one at the front door when the member collapses.

Self-assessment questions

1. Can every staff member present during operating hours, not only certified instructors, actually use the AED and perform CPR? — Genuine, broad capability across all staff, not limited to certified instructors alone.
Evidence: Staff CPR/AED training record

2. Is this training genuinely current for every staff member, not lapsed for those in non-instructor roles? — Real, current training for everyone present, not only those whose primary role involves direct exercise instruction.
Evidence: N/A — tested directly

3. Would a staff member confidently know what to do if a cardiac event occurred and no certified instructor were immediately nearby? — Genuine, confident readiness, not uncertainty about acting without an instructor present.
Evidence: N/A — tested directly

Common reasons for a PARTIAL answer

Front-desk and administrative staff receive initial training but refreshers lapse more than for instructors. — Every staff member's readiness deserves the same genuine, ongoing reinforcement, not just instructors'.
Training is broad but confidence varies significantly among non-instructor staff. — Training completion alone doesn't guarantee the genuine, confident readiness a real emergency requires.
Coverage is strong during peak hours but thinner during early morning or late evening shifts.

Implementation plan

When	What
Week 1	Review current CPR/AED training coverage across all staff roles and shifts.
Week 2	Extend training to all staff present during operating hours, not instructors alone.
Week 3	Establish a consistent refresher schedule across all roles.
Ongoing	Confirm coverage specifically during lower-staffed shifts.

How the Monitor verifies this

Method	What	Detail
DOCUMENT	Broad training record review	Reviews CPR/AED training records for all staff present during operating hours, not only instructors.
DOCUMENT	Currency review	Reviews whether training is genuinely current across all staff roles.
ASK	Non-instructor confidence interview	Asks a non-instructor staff member how confident they'd be responding to a cardiac event.

Supervisor tips

Ask a front-desk or administrative staff member directly whether they're trained and confident in CPR/AED use. — This tests whether genuine capability extends beyond instructors, not an assumption it does.
Check training currency specifically for staff working early morning or late evening shifts. — This is where coverage gaps most commonly appear.

Evidence base

[13] Early CPR and early defibrillation are established as the critical links in the chain of survival for cardiac arrest, with survival highest when both occur within the first minutes of collapse, establishing broad staff response capability, not reliance on a single certified individual, as necessary for genuine emergency readiness.

ASF training courses on GMJ Academy →

Foundation courses A-00 to A-03 are live. Criterion-specific modules are being developed and will link here when published.

3.4

A Cardiac Event Triggers an Immediate, Practiced Response, Not Improvisation

Non-Negotiable

The facility maintains a specific, practiced emergency response protocol for a cardiac event — clear roles, a defined communication process, a rehearsed sequence of actions — not a general expectation that staff will respond appropriately in the moment without ever having practiced it.

In plain terms: There is a written cardiac emergency plan with roles — who starts CPR, who fetches the AED, who calls the ambulance, who manages the crowd — and it is practised every quarter.

Facility category	Crisis	Transition	Small	Standard
Applicability	Full	Full	Adapted	Full

Why this matters

In a cardiac arrest, the first four minutes decide the outcome, and in those minutes there is no time to decide who does what. A written protocol assigns roles by position (the nearest staff member starts CPR; the second fetches the AED; the receptionist calls emergency services and gives the address; the manager clears the area and meets the ambulance). Everyone knows their role. Quarterly drills — timed, with a debrief — turn the plan into reflex. A facility that has never drilled will improvise, and improvisation costs minutes.

What good looks like

A specific, defined emergency response protocol genuinely exists.
The protocol has been genuinely practiced through real drills.
Staff roles are specifically defined and confidently known.

Common failure modes

No specific protocol exists beyond a general expectation of appropriate response.
The protocol exists only in writing, never practiced through a drill.
Staff are uncertain about their specific role during a cardiac emergency.

Worked example

In practice

A 1,300-member fitness centre with trained staff but no protocol or drills.

BeforeStaff were CPR-trained. No written protocol; no drills. In a real event, three staff started CPR simultaneously, nobody fetched the AED for two minutes, and the ambulance was called late because everyone assumed someone else had.

ActionA one-page cardiac emergency protocol with role cards was written. Roles are by position, not name. The AED and emergency number are on every card. Quarterly drills with a mannequin, timed from 'collapse' to AED shock and to ambulance call, with a debrief and actions. Drill times are tracked. A real event review process was defined.

AfterThe Monitor reviewed the protocol, four drill records (time to AED shock improved from 3:40 to 1:50), and debrief actions. Verified.

If you are starting from zero — do this first

Write a one-page protocol with roles by position.
Put role cards at reception and in every studio.
Run a timed drill this month.
Debrief and repeat quarterly.

The most common mistake: Training everyone in CPR and assuming they will coordinate themselves in the moment.

Self-assessment questions

1. Does the facility maintain a specific, defined emergency response protocol for a cardiac event? — A real, specific protocol with defined roles, not a general expectation of appropriate response.
Evidence: Cardiac emergency response protocol

2. Has this protocol genuinely been practiced through a real drill, not only described in a written document? — Real, rehearsed practice, not a protocol that exists only on paper.
Evidence: Drill record

3. Are staff roles specifically defined for this scenario — who calls emergency services, who retrieves the AED, who begins CPR? — Specific, practiced role clarity, not general awareness that everyone should help.
Evidence: N/A — tested directly

Common reasons for a PARTIAL answer

A protocol exists and has been drilled, but not recently enough to remain genuinely fresh for current staff. — Genuine readiness depends on recent, real practice, not a drill from long ago.
Roles are clear for full-time staff but not consistently reinforced for newer or part-time team members. — Every staff member present during a real emergency needs the same genuine role clarity.
The protocol covers the main exercise floor but hasn't specifically been drilled for a less typical area, like an outdoor space.

Implementation plan

When	What
Week 1	Review current emergency response protocol for specificity and genuine practice history.
Week 2	Define specific staff roles for cardiac emergency response.
Week 3	Conduct a genuine, practiced drill covering the full protocol.
Ongoing	Repeat drills periodically, ensuring newer staff are included.

How the Monitor verifies this

Method	What	Detail
DOCUMENT	Protocol documentation review	Reviews the actual, specific cardiac emergency response protocol.
DOCUMENT	Drill record review	Reviews records of genuine, practiced emergency drills, not protocol description alone.
ASK	Role clarity interview	Asks staff to describe their specific role during a cardiac emergency response.

Supervisor tips

Ask staff to describe their specific role during a cardiac emergency, not a general description of the protocol. — A specific, confident answer reveals genuine, practiced readiness.
Ask when the last real drill occurred and who participated. — A specific, recent answer reveals genuine practice, not a protocol that exists only on paper.

Evidence base

[14] The chain of survival for cardiac arrest specifically requires early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced care as coordinated, sequential actions, establishing a genuinely practiced, defined response protocol as necessary, distinct from improvised action in the moment.

ASF training courses on GMJ Academy →

Foundation courses A-00 to A-03 are live. Criterion-specific modules are being developed and will link here when published.

3.5

Post-Event Review Genuinely Examines Response Time and Outcome

Core

Following any real cardiac event or drill, the facility genuinely reviews actual response time and outcome — how long until the AED arrived, how long until the first shock — with real, resulting improvement where warranted, not an event that passes without any structured reflection on what actually happened.

In plain terms: After any real cardiac event or drill, the facility reviews what actually happened — time to CPR, time to AED, time to ambulance — and fixes what was slow.

Facility category	Crisis	Transition	Small	Standard
Applicability	N/A	Full	Adapted	Full

Why this matters

A drill or a real event that is not reviewed teaches nothing. The review asks: how long from collapse to CPR? To AED on? To shock? To ambulance called? To ambulance arrived? What delayed each? Then: what changes? A door that was locked, a staff member who froze, an AED that was further than thought, a phone that was engaged. Each finding becomes an action. Response times tracked over successive drills show whether the facility is getting faster.

What good looks like

Real response time is genuinely measured and reviewed following events or drills.
Genuine, resulting improvement follows identified gaps.
Drills receive the same genuine review attention as real events.

Common failure modes

No genuine review of actual response time occurs.
Review, if it happens, doesn't lead to any resulting improvement.
Drills are treated as a lesser exercise, without the same genuine review.

Worked example

In practice

A 1,400-member fitness centre running quarterly drills without structured review.

BeforeDrills happened. Afterwards, staff said 'that went fine.' No timing, no debrief, no actions. The same problems — nobody calling the ambulance, the AED cabinet key missing — recurred every drill.

ActionA post-event review template was introduced: timeline with timestamps, what went well, what delayed, root cause of each delay, actions with owners. Every drill and real event is reviewed within 48 hours. Times are charted. Actions are tracked to completion. The AED cabinet key issue was resolved by removing the lock.

AfterThe Monitor reviewed four drill reviews with timelines, delay analysis, and completed actions; time to shock trend showed improvement. Verified.

If you are starting from zero — do this first

Time your next drill: collapse to CPR, to AED, to shock, to call.
Ask what delayed each step.
Write one action per delay.
Chart the times across drills.

The most common mistake: 'That went fine' — the drill that is not timed cannot be improved.

Self-assessment questions

1. Does the facility genuinely review actual response time following a real event or drill? — Real, specific measurement of actual time, not a general sense that response was adequate.
Evidence: Post-event review documentation

2. Is genuine, resulting improvement made where review identifies a real gap? — Real, resulting action, not review without any consequence.
Evidence: Improvement action record

3. Are drills specifically reviewed the same way as real events, not treated as a lesser exercise? — Genuine, equal attention to drills, not only real emergencies.
Evidence: N/A — tested directly

Common reasons for a PARTIAL answer

Response time is generally discussed after an event but not specifically, numerically measured. — A specific, measured time reveals genuine performance more reliably than a general impression.
Review happens for real events but drills don't consistently receive the same structured attention. — Drills are the primary, regular opportunity to catch and correct gaps before a real event occurs.
Findings are identified but resulting changes aren't consistently tracked to confirm implementation.

Implementation plan

When	What
Week 1	Review current practice for genuine response time measurement following events or drills.
Week 2	Establish a structured review process specifically measuring actual response time.
Week 3	Build genuine review attention for drills, equal to real events.
Ongoing	Track identified improvements through to confirmed implementation.

How the Monitor verifies this

Method	What	Detail
DOCUMENT	Post-event review documentation review	Reviews evidence of genuine response time measurement following real events or drills.
DOCUMENT	Improvement action review	Reviews whether genuine, resulting improvement follows identified review findings.
ASK	Drill review interview	Asks staff whether drills receive the same genuine review as real events.

Supervisor tips

Ask for the actual, measured response time from the most recent drill. — A specific, real number reveals genuine measurement, not a general impression of adequacy.
Ask what changed as a result of the most recent drill review. — A real, specific example reveals whether review leads to genuine improvement.

Evidence base

[15] On-site AED use is associated with meaningfully faster time to first shock compared with externally delivered defibrillation, establishing genuine measurement of actual response time as necessary to confirming a facility's real readiness matches the evidence-based standard, not merely assumed adequate.

ASF training courses on GMJ Academy →

Foundation courses A-00 to A-03 are live. Criterion-specific modules are being developed and will link here when published.

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Self-assess against these criteria →
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