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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 28, 2012 12:20 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Ed Neilson |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Co-sponsorship of Legislation – Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in Schools |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that will require all public and nonpublic schools in the Commonwealth to keep and maintain at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) in each occupied building at all times. This legislation is fundamentally identical to House Bill 1265 of the 2011-2012 Legislative Session. It is my sincere hope you will join me in this important effort. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), most sudden cardiac arrests result from ventricular fibrillation, or a rapid and unsynchronized heart rhythm starting in the heart’s ventricles. As we are all aware, if not treated quickly, sudden cardiac events often result in death. In fact, a victim’s chance of surviving drops by seven to ten percent for every minute a normal heartbeat is not restored. Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States accounting for an estimated 295,000 occurrences of out-of hospital SCA per year, with only an 8 percent survival rate. Unfortunately, children and young adults are not immune from experiencing cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest episodes can be successfully treated in many victims using an AED, but time is crucial. AEDs are lightweight, portable devices that deliver an electric shock through the chest to the heart and make it possible for more people to respond to a medical emergency where defibrillation is required. The shock of an AED can stop an irregular rhythm and allow a normal rhythm to resume in instances of sudden cardiac arrest. My legislation would require every school entity, nonpublic and private school to have at least one AED in each occupied building at all times and require school entities make available to district employees and volunteers instruction on the use of AEDs. In addition, school entities would be required to have at least one person trained and certified in the use of an AED and present during school hours. According to AHA, a number of states such as Alabama, Connecticut, and Maryland currently require AEDs in schools. Equipping our schools with these critical devices has the potential to save the lives of countless children and adults throughout this Commonwealth. Previous Cosponsors: K. SMITH, R. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, BRADFORD, D. COSTA, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, HESS, HORNAMAN, MANN, MURT, READSHAW, ROEBUCK, DONATUCCI, DeLUCA, PASHINSKI, YOUNGBLOOD and CLYMER |
Introduced as HB748