Here in the UK we have a lot of emergency defibrillators located in accessible positions for public use. Unfortunately there is no single go-to resource that gives the locations. There are are number of websites that map some of them, but not all. I believe every community should be able to find their nearest defribrillator (AED) so that in an emergency, no valuable time is wasted. Google Maps is the ideal place to have this! I have been adding our local defibrillators to Google Maps, and it would be great if other Local Guides could do something similar for there own community. Would you care to help?
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Hi @NevilleMerritt currently there is no appropriate category for mapping an AED. There is an existing idea to add AED as a category for a place on Maps https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/Idea-Exchange/AED-defibrillator/idi-p/679125 even though it is closed you can still vote on it to increase its awareness.
Update looking at your profile I see you’ve been mapping them using various inappropriate categories, I don’t want to spoil your party but those entries are all likely to get removed because the category is incorrect. It would be best to hold off until there is an official category for them.
In the mean time you could make a Maps List and share it on your profile or use Google My Maps and publish that way.
Paul
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Thanks @PaulPavlinovich for your comment. The category I am using consistently now is Emergency Care Service. I see that other AEDs have been mapped elsewhere in the UK with various inconsistent health-related categories. They have been allowed and not removed. Surely it is more important to have life-saving information available, than wait an un-determined amount of time until Google creates a category specifically for AEDs? I’ll have a look at the links you suggest. Thanks again.
PS the link to the previous post raising awareness of the vital need for AED mapping was raised in 2018. In two years, nothing has happened.
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The challenge @NevilleMerritt is that someone might look up emergency care near me when they need an Emergency Department or at least a Doctor and in their panic they’re going to race off to the AED you’ve mapped using that category without really looking at what is there. I love what you’re trying to do and I support your goal absolutely but in this case you have the potential to do more harm than good.
In addition to voting on the idea, I recommend you visit the Maps Support Community https://support.google.com/maps/community and add your voice there to those that have been calling for an AED category.
Paul
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Hello @NevilleMerritt great idea I recently added one too (having these on the map might be a life saver).
I still hope Google will make a separate category for AED’s. I already voted for the idea.
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@PaulPavlinovich your concern is well-intentioned but you may be unfamiliar with the provision of health and emergency services here in the UK. In an emergency we dial 999 for an ambulance or First Responder. We don’t rush anywhere to care services, and even hospitals don’t always have A&E (Accident & Emergency) facilities. Doctors don’t deal with emergencies. That is well-known by everyone and I can’t think of a situation where someone would Google Emergency Care Services and then mistakenly rush to an AED. I think the infinitessimally small chance of that happening would be greatly outweighed by having AEDs more publicly visible. I’ll add my vote to the links you kindly provided. Thank you!
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Great work Eric! Thank you.
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@NevilleMerritt I’m not here to argue with you. I’ve told you the facts. You are not compliant with Maps User Contributed Content Policy and that will have a predictable outcome for the things you have added.
Paul
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I agree with you on this point @NevilleMerritt in case of an emergency anyone in the Netherlands knows to call 112 (central phone number for Medical care, Police or Fire department). I think it is at the utmost importance Google will make a perfect category for this ASAP so eventually misunderstandings are impossible.
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Hi @PaulPavlinovich I can see your point in this and you’re right as to state it’s not compliant with Maps User Contributed Content Policy.
I just wonder why it should take Google like forever to make a category for AED’s? Using a category that comes close to one that is needed happens to many other POI’s too. The requests for a category for AED’s is done by many people already.
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It is a good question @Erik_van_den_Ham I wish I had an answer for you but I do not.
The number 112 you mention is the international emergency number for dialling from a mobile/cell phone it will work anywhere in the world even without a SIM in the phone.
Paul
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Hello @PaulPavlinovich of course I’m not blaming you in any way for the fact this AED category still isn’t there. But the question to make one goes back many years. As a trained ERO (Emergency response officer) I know and was told in the training that every second counts when it comes to reanimation.
Thank you for telling me about 112 I didn’t know it was international as I knew that US uses 911, UK 999 and Australia 000. You made me learn a bit more today!
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Beautiful idea. You’ve inspired me to do the same 
@ianlovestuff thank you! I wish I knew how to put pressure on Google to add a more specific Category for these, otherwise our work could be deleted according to @PaulPavlinovich
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Hi @NevilleMerritt , @PaulPavlinovich , and @Erik_van_den_Ham
Earlier I have voiced the following hunch about why Google is hesitant on adding the much needed and requested AED category.
In times of emergency the information needs more than ever to be accurate. Imagine the liability incurred by American citizens suing Google for wrong information on Google Maps in case this indirectly killed a loved one.
AED need regular service checks and permanent power. And not all AEDs meet this requirement.
Some countries already have publicly or privately run complete databases of AEDs available with GPS coordinats etc. For Google and the public it would probably be better to create partnerships with such national/local databases where Google then can trust the organizations or authorities behind the data for legal reasons.
Trusting individual volunteers like us is probably not as good as automated import of data from quality controlled existing databases.
I don’t have any inside information from Google on this, but it seems a very likely explanation to me. It will be comparable to other existing partnerships known from city bike schemes, electric scooters and public transportation partners providing live data utilized for navigation.
I just wanted to provide extra input to your ongoing discussion.
Cheers
Morten
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Hello @MortenCopenhagen it all keeps guessing as there is no feedback from Google. This matter is keeping everyone wondering when and what.
So what about liability for all other info LG’s provide.
Say I travel to US to find out the National Park I wanted to visit was closed. Google stated at the POI it was open, would they be liable? I know info is regularly checked again but things can change quick or there are exceptions on special days.
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I believe you already know that Google always keep what they are working on top secret until they start rolling out new features. And Google staff never respond to such questions. That is what leaves us guessing.
Sorry, but I have no real answer to the question you raised.
All the best
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I know @MortenCopenhagen you don’t have any sure answer to this. But Google must realise that if certain categories are missing LG’s will get ‘creative’ as a category is mandatory when creating a new place.
I use ‘Tourist attraction’ a lot as a substitute for what I think it should be.
I think discussing this is a good thing as it might wake up some people so your input is highly appreciated.
Cheers, Erik
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I think you might not be aware that the two most loud and clear communication channels we have from Google about Google Maps are:
A: How the app works and
B: The list of categories
The list of categories is the autoritative way Google let’s us know what places we can add. And hence what kinds of places we should not add. If a category is missing this is a sure sign that we should not be adding such places.
And all creative and alternative use of categories are strongly discouraged. In the worst case we are wasting our time adding places that will be taken down and we risk suspension for this and even for promoting such practices.
I strongly support the noble cause of adding AEDs, but we need to be smarter than risking wasting our time and efforts.
You can find old posts where I argue hard for a new AED category ASAP.
I would recommend 2 strategies :
A: Research existing national and local databases and team up with them. So data can be exported directly into Google Maps when Google is ready.
B: If no such databases can be found create one in My Maps. This will allow you to put AEDs on a map without struggling with the spam filters. And the result would be ready for automatic import if the data are verified and of high quality.
Cheers
Morten
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Google already have a partner program on health services @MortenCopenhagen that would facilitate upload of bulk entries from databases.
I won’t even try and guess who Google do or do not do something on Maps (or any other part of their business). As in Monty Python, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected :).
Paul
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