Automatic External Defibrillator Wayfinding Signs
By: Eric Peterson, State Signing Engineer, MnDOT Office of Traffic Engineering
An Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) is an electronic device designed and manufactured to operate automatically or semiautomatically for the purpose of delivering an electrical current to the heart of a person in sudden cardiac arrest.
While AEDs are available in many locations across the state, access has often been limited because many devices are located inside buildings which either are unknown to the public and/or are not available all hours of the day. To address this issue, there’s been a growing effort to install AEDs in outdoor, publicly accessible locations that can be reached by anyone at any time.
To improve public awareness and guide motorists toward life-saving devices, Governor Walz signed Minnesota Statute 160.802 into law on May 22, 2025, following unanimous bipartisan support. The statute establishes a statewide wayfinding signage program for outdoor, publicly accessible AEDs along Minnesota roadways.
AED Wayfinding signs may be placed on roadways under the jurisdiction of any road authority, given that the AED location meets all qualification criteria provided in statute.
Outdoor, public access AED locations are not required to be signed on a roadway unless a qualified participant submits a request to the relevant road authority and pays the road authority all costs associated with installation, maintenance, and removal of the sign(s).
More information regarding qualification criteria, the request process, AED wayfinding sign design and placement, trailblazing sign requirements, and costs is found on MnDOT’s AED Wayfinding Signs webpage.
Please contact Eric Peterson at eric.peterson@state.mn.us with questions or for more information.