Website Disclaimer

WEBSITE DISCLAIMER

AEDNearMe is a public‑interest, student‑led initiative that provides a location‑based map of publicly accessible Automated External Defibrillators ("AEDs") in South Africa at www.aednearme.co.za. This Disclaimer forms part of our website Terms and applies to all use of the AEDNearMe site and map. It contains important consumer‑notice language under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 ("CPA") and is written in plain language to satisfy section 49 requirements. By using our site or map, you acknowledge this Disclaimer and agree that it has been brought to your attention in a manner likely to attract the attention of an ordinary alert consumer.

1. Emergency use and medical‑advice warning
   1. AEDNearMe is not an emergency service, does not provide medical advice, and must not be relied on in place of contacting emergency services. In a medical emergency, call 112 from any mobile phone in South Africa, or 10177 for an ambulance from any phone; you will be routed to the appropriate emergency service. Do not delay or rely solely on this website.
   2. Information on this website is general, informational content and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment; always follow the instructions of emergency call handlers and qualified responders.
2. Nature and scope of the platform
   1. AEDNearMe is an information tool that displays AED locations submitted voluntarily by third parties or compiled from publicly available sources for the public‑interest purpose of improving bystander access to AEDs. We do not operate ambulance services, dispatch AEDs, unlock cabinets, provide access codes, or guarantee entry to any premises.
   2. Listings may contain conditions of access, hours, or directions supplied by the submitter. We do not independently verify the accuracy, currency, completeness, or on‑site accessibility of any listing and may generalise or withhold details to reduce theft or misuse risk.
3. No warranty of AED availability, condition or fitness
   1. To the maximum extent permitted by South African law, AEDNearMe makes no representation, guarantee or warranty express, implied, statutory or otherwise that any AED shown will be present, available, operational, maintained, charged, accessible, or fit for use at any time. Information is provided “as is” and “as available”, may be inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, and may be changed or removed without notice.
   2. We do not warrant uninterrupted or error‑free availability of the website, maps, geolocation services, directions, or third‑party tool integrations.
4. No liability for use or inability to use an AED
   1. To the fullest extent permitted by law, AEDNearMe will not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, death, costs, or claims arising from or connected to your use of, reliance on, inability to use, attempt to use, or decision to use or not use any AED identified via the map, including delays, inaccuracies, unavailability, misdirection, access restrictions, or device malfunction.
   2. Nothing in this Disclaimer limits or excludes liability to the extent such limitation or exclusion is prohibited under the CPA or other applicable law, including liability for gross negligence, fraud, or wilful misconduct.
5. Third‑party data, content and services
   1. AED locations and access details are largely provided by third parties in good faith. We do not endorse, control or assume responsibility for any third‑party submissions, premises, devices, instructions, access arrangements, or on‑site signage.
   2. Our site may include third‑party mapping layers, links, widgets, and content; we make no warranties about their accuracy, timeliness, or reliability. Your use of third‑party sites and tools is at your own risk.
6. Private premises, access conditions and lawful conduct
   1. Many AEDs are hosted on private property or in private buildings. The map does not grant you permission to enter private premises, and you must comply with all property rules, security instructions, hours of access, and lawful directions of owners, occupiers, and emergency services. Do not trespass or force access.
   2. We may remove or generalise listings where precise disclosure could create undue risk or where a lawful objection is raised by an owner or occupier, balancing public safety and privacy considerations.
7. Operational limits and safety measures
   1. AEDNearMe does not install, own, maintain, inspect, or test AEDs and cannot guarantee cabinet codes, battery status, pad expiry, or readiness. Where known, such information may still be out of date or incorrect at the time of use. Always follow emergency call‑handler guidance.
   2. We may avoid publishing sensitive access details (such as cabinet codes) and may show approximate locations to reduce theft or misuse risk; this is for community safety and does not imply accuracy to the metre.
8. User responsibilities
   1. You are responsible for assessing circumstances on site, calling emergency services, following call‑handler and responder instructions, ensuring your own safety and the safety of others, and complying with the law. Do not delay emergency calls while searching the map.
   2. Where you submit data to AEDNearMe, you warrant it is accurate to the best of your knowledge and that you have authority to share it for public safety purposes, and you agree that we may edit, generalise, or remove it for safety, privacy or quality reasons.
9. Indemnity

   To the maximum extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify AEDNearMe, its student operators, volunteers, and contributors against claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses arising from your unlawful conduct, trespass, wilful misconduct, or breach of this Disclaimer or applicable law in connection with your use of the site or any AED identified via the map. This indemnity does not apply to loss attributable to our gross negligence, fraud, or wilful misconduct.

This Disclaimer limits and may exclude liability and risk. We bring the fact, nature and effect of these terms to your attention here, in plain language, prominently and prior to use of the site. By continuing to use the site and map, you acknowledge and accept these provisions. Nothing herein seeks to contract out of rights that cannot lawfully be waived, and no term purports to exempt liability for loss directly or indirectly attributable to gross negligence.

Similar public‑interest AED platforms, including Defib Finder in the United Kingdom and community AED locators in Australia, emphasise that their maps are not intended for use in an emergency, that data is provided in good faith and may be inaccurate or out of date, and that users must call the national emergency number for life‑threatening incidents. AED Near Me follows that good‑practice approach.

1. This Disclaimer and any dispute arising from it are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. The parties submit to the non‑exclusive jurisdiction of the South African courts, subject to confirming forum particulars here: [Insert preferred forum/jurisdiction].
2. Nothing prevents a consumer from approaching any competent court or the National Consumer Tribunal as provided by law.
3. Information Officer and legal contact: Benrico Krog; Email: [email protected]
4. To contact emergency services in South Africa, dial 112 from any mobile, or 10177 for an ambulance.

We may update this Disclaimer from time to time. Material changes will be posted on this page with a new effective date. Continued use after updates constitutes acceptance.

Effective date: [Insert date]