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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 17, 2016 10:53 AM |
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| From: | Representative Scott Conklin |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | CONKLIN - CPR/First Aid training in High Schools |
| In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation amending the Public School Code of 1949 to require that schools provide employees, volunteers and students instruction on the principals and techniques of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), first aid and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Under current law, school entities are required to offer CPR training as an option to all employees once every three years. In addition, current law does not require AEDs in every school; however, any school that has an AED on its premises is required to have one staff member who is certified in the proper usage of the machine. As you know, training in these lifesaving techniques and equipment can be the difference between life and death. Accordingly, I will be introducing legislation in order to ensure the continued safety of school employees, volunteers, visitors and students. My legislation will require schools to offer CPR and first aid instruction, as needed, to school employees, and athletic coaches and trainers. Likewise, my proposal would require schools to provide CPR and first aid instruction to school volunteers no less than every three years. Additionally, my bill will increase the number of staff required to be certified in the operation of an AED from one to four people. In addition to staff and volunteer training, I think it is important that students preparing to move on from secondary school be properly trained in CPR and first aid. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year and each school year thereafter, this legislation would require every secondary public or private school in the Commonwealth to provide students with training, testing and certification on the principles and techniques of CPR and first aid. Student training and certification in CPR and first aid would be a required component for a student’s successful graduation from high school. Over the past few years 27 states have enacted laws that require high school students to become certified in CPR and first aid as a graduation requirement. Anyone can learn CPR and first aid, and everyone should! Sadly, 70 percent of Americans may feel helpless to act during an emergency situation because they either do not know how to administer CPR and first aid or their training has significantly lapsed. This alarming statistic could hit home, because home is exactly where 88 percent of emergency situations occur. Put simply, the life that is mostly likely to be saved via the use of CPR and first aid is someone you love. Please join me in ensuring that lives are saved by co-sponsoring this very important legislation. |
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