Massachusetts is one of the few remaining states that does not currently require CPR training for high school graduation. That may soon change.

During the current legislative session, lawmakers have introduced new bipartisan bills that would require Massachusetts public high school students to receive hands-only CPR and AED awareness training before graduating. If passed, these bills would bring Massachusetts in line with the majority of U.S. states that already have CPR-in-schools requirements.

Below is a summary of the active legislation.

House Bill: H.556

“An Act Relative to CPR and AED Education”

Summary: House Bill H.556 would require Massachusetts public high schools to provide students with instruction in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) as part of the graduation requirements.

The bill is designed to ensure students receive practical, life-saving awareness and skills, without requiring formal certification. Training could be incorporated into existing health or physical education courses and would not require students to pass a skills test to graduate.

The bill emphasizes:

• Hands-only CPR instruction
• AED awareness and basic use
• Age-appropriate instruction prior to graduation
• Flexibility for schools in how the training is delivered

Current Status:

• Filed in the Massachusetts House
• Referred to the Joint Committee on Education
• Under active consideration during the current session

Official Bill Page:
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H556

Senate Bill: S.2863

“An Act Relative to CPR and AED Education in Schools”

Summary: Senate Bill S.2863 is the Senate companion to H.556 and mirrors its core goals: requiring hands-only CPR and AED instruction for high school students prior to graduation.

The Senate version similarly focuses on:

• CPR and AED education for all students
• Use of nationally recognized training guidelines
• No certification requirement for students
• Allowing schools flexibility in implementation

The bill reflects growing concern that bystander CPR rates remain too low and that early education is one of the most effective ways to increase survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest.

Current Status:

• Introduced in the Massachusetts Senate
• Reported favorably out of the Education Committee
• Referred to Senate Ways and Means for further consideration

Official Bill Page:
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2863

Why This Matters

More than 40 states and Washington, D.C. already require CPR training for high school graduation. Studies consistently show that early CPR education increases bystander response rates and saves lives.

If passed, these Massachusetts bills would:

• Align the state with national best practices
• Equip thousands of students each year with life-saving knowledge
• Expand community readiness for cardiac emergencies

SchoolCPR.com will continue to track these bills and provide updates as the legislation moves forward.

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Fast Forward to 2018…things are starting to look up!

Here is the latest:

On January 30, 2018, the bill was passed to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Pre-K-12 Education-SJ226.

February 5, it was reviewed and then the Subcommittee Recommendation: found Favorable on February 8, 2018.

What happens next?

Although progressing nicely, there are still a few more steps this bill must go through in order to be passed into law. Here is the Legislative Process: and How Senate Becomes Law.

If everything works out in the end, this bill could possibly be effective 7/1/2018.

Click here to specifically view the progress of Florida SB 996: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Public Schools.

We are pulling for you, Florida!!

Because Life Matters.

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Lexi Sima (a senior at Viera High School in Melbourne, FL), along with her father Shawn Sima, are pioneering a grassroots campaign to assist State Sen. Debbie Mayfield and State Rep. Thad Altman making CPR training mandatory for Florida high school students.

2 years ago Lexi died doing something she did everyday.

That’s right, you are reading that correctly. Lexi went into cardiac arrest and collapsed off a treadmill at the young age of 16. By the grace of God there were people at the gym with CPR training and more importantly, the confidence to step in and help.

Bill Sick stepped in without hesitation and performed CPR, and with the help of Jack Rhodes, John Lynch and Amanda Miller, saved her life. Their intervention and the use of the AED (automated external defibrillator), revived Lexi and kept her alive while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.  

“It is critically important to act and act quick,” Bill stated in an interview with Space Coast Daily TV.

The thing is, when this happens most people don’t act. They have an adverse reaction, and step back. Why? There are probably many reasons. But the most important reason is lack of training and confidence.

That’s why schools across the country have mandated the CPR graduation requirement for high school students. Teenagers are some of the best rescuers because of their willingness to learn and fearlessness.

Rep. Altman and Sen. Mayfield say that this will be an uphill battle, but they encourage students to reach out to their local state representative and on social media to make sure this bill is heard.

The power belongs to the people.

You can track the Florida Senate Bill 996 (SB996) progress here.

Today, Lexi is not only alive, but remarkably brave to share her story. She and her father Shawn, are making it their mission to help push this bill into law and give back.

Everyone should be armed with the knowledge on how to save a human life. Seems like a no brainer right? So, view our training videos here for free. Get your school registered today. Because Life Matters.

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So if you want to know about the CPR requirements for teachers in California, or Indiana, we’ve got you covered.

We’ve put together pages for every state, with the latest information that we could find about each one. If there has been a new development that you’ve found out about, and we’re missing some major changes or updates to the laws in your state, feel free to let us know and help us to keep our state guide updated.

If you’re on the front lines, trying to get more teachers and students educated, thank you for helping to potentially save our children’s lives.

Check out our full list of states where CPR is a requirement for teachers to find your state. Be sure to contact us if you have any questions about group rates for the teachers in your school as well as our free training for your students.

The post What are the CPR Requirements for Teachers? appeared first on School CPR.

The measure requires schools to provide instruction at least one time between grades seven and twelve. Schools can incorporate the training into their health classes to meet the requirement.

Our course meets and exceeds this requirement and can be incorporated at both an awareness level and certification level at no cost per student.

The bill was signed into law on December 28, 2016 by Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, as Gov. Rick Snyder is vacationing out of state.

Submit your school!

The post CPR and AED Training is Mandatory in Michigan before Graduating High School appeared first on School CPR.

Teacher Phil Miedema and athletic trainer Brett Knoop jumped into action. Knoop administered CPR while Miedema ran to grab one of the six Automated External Defibrilators they have around Caledonia High School for emergencies such as this.

Within two minutes of collapsing, Peter was successfully shocked back to life.

Peter Lombardo is grateful to be alive, though a little sore. He recognizes the need for AEDs and training to use them. He also gives a lot of credit to the Wes Leonard Heart Team for raising awareness of the importance of AEDs in schools. One of Caledonia’s AEDs was donated by them.

“You hear about the Wes Leonard story. You hear about stuff they’re doing like that and think, ‘Hey great.’ You know, but until I’m in the situation, it’s beyond important to have them trained and have them in the schools,” Lombardo said.

As for the teachers, they say they were just doing their job, part of which is teaching how to use AEDs. “I don’t think we’re heroes. For me a hero is the people who put a uniform on each and every day put their lives on the line to protect us… We were just doing our job,” Knoop said.

If you’re looking for free CPR training for your school, we have it available.

–via WoodTV

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by Andrea Konsoer

The sad reality is we have all heard the tragic stories of young high school athletes suddenly collapsing on the court or field from sudden cardiac arrest. Maybe you were even there and personally witnessed a young life seemingly healthy, active and at the peak of performance, drop down to the ground for no reason and never wake up. Or, maybe this was a relation of yours whom you loved and will miss forever.  

Rod Williams, 17 years old, from Waynesboro, GA, collapsed on the football field six minutes into practice. An autopsy revealed that he had a pre-existing heart condition that went undetected and collapsed as a result of sudden cardiac arrest.

16 year-old Wes Leonard, of Fennville, Michigan, collapsed on the basketball court and later died after scoring the game-winning shot. The Ottawa County medical examiner named his cause of death cardiac arrest due to dilated cardiomyopathy.

Sarah Landauer, 17, from Gainesville, FL, fell unconscious after a 200 meter sprint. Bystanders performed CPR and used a defibrillator to resuscitate her, but she passed away at the hospital. Autopsy reports later named the death likely because of the thickening of the heart muscles.

Although 300,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) each year, It’s estimated that 6-8,000 of those deaths result from SCA in the young on an annual basis. Although seemingly rare, It is happening and that number is still scary. It can happen anywhere. To anyone.

What can we do?

Let’s all  learn the warning signs:

It is known that there are 20 hidden cardiac diseases that predispose people to SCA, however, the most common of those is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, (HCM). HCM is a genetic condition that causes the thickening of the heart muscle. Too much vigorous physical activity can cause a person with HCM’s heart to beat at an abnormally dangerous rate. There are many people living with an underlying heart condition that goes undetected.  However, there are a couple of signs that can indicate something is wrong. Here is what to look for:

-Sudden or unexpected fainting

-Extreme fatigue

-Shortness of breath

-Seizures

-Racing heartbeat

If you recognize any of these signs in someone you know, or are experiencing these symptoms yourself, seek medical attention immediately. If it is indeed an underlying heart issue many of them can be treated!

Promote a ‘safety first’ attitude at school by:

-Encouraging students  to talk about injuries and enforce the idea of speaking up when hurt.

-Parents and students must take the sports physical exam seriously and if you are experiencing any symptoms mentioned above, request an EKG from your doctor to get checked out further.

-All schools should have a comprehensive Emergency Action plan and participate in regular drills to ensure proper procedures are carried out in emergency situations.

-Schools must also have an adequate amount of Automated Electronic Defibrillators on site and properly maintain them.

– All teachers, staff, parents and students should be trained in CPR/AED.

Learn CPR:

Knowledge is power and it is important to be armed with this life-saving tool because you never know when you may need it.

When you witness a sudden collapse and SCA occurs, the first thing to do is call 911. Then CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) MUST be performed if the person has any chance of survival. It may be too late, however, bystanders at least need to attempt CPR and begin chest compressions immediately until medical personnel arrive and take over. SCA is time sensitive. The use of an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) is ideal in this situation and should be available at every school.  

Only about 30% of victims of sudden cardiac arrest (out of the hospital) receive any type of CPR because most bystanders hesitate to help cardiac arrest victims. Research has shown that when bystanders have CPR training, they are more likely to jump in and take action! If people receive CPR immediately after cardiac arrest, it can double or even triple their chances of survival.

What now?

Even though sudden cardiac arrest is rare in young adults, it is still happening. It’s important to be reminded of the warning signs, arm ourselves with knowledge and be ready to take action if it does occur.

The good news is more and more states are mandating CPR training for high school students before graduation.  We passionately believe that teenagers are some of the best rescuers because of their fearlessness and willingness to learn. How can you put a price on saving a life? Junior high and high school students can train and get certified for free with the Student CPR training program! You can register your school here and get started with this life saving education. Because Life Matters.

The post Sudden Cardiac Arrest in High School Athletes – We need to talk about it appeared first on School CPR.

Currently, 36 states require CPR/AED training to receive a high school diploma. In addition to these states, two more are passing through lawmakers courts in both Michigan and California.

Our mission at StudentCPR is to ensure that every high school student has the opportunity to learn a training that could save the life of a loved one. As a response to our declared mission, we provide this training for free. We not only believe that students can save lives, we believe they can be trained through online videos.

Here is a link to some valuable research.
The information we really value at StudentCPR are studies like this.

We post about why CPR is important and why we believe in students learning this training but now we’d like YOU to get involved.

First, let’s get you informed:

Excerpts from proposed bills:

California:

AB 1719, as amended, Rodriguez. Pupil instruction: cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

(1) Existing law authorizes a school district or school to provide a comprehensive program in first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, or both, to pupils and employees in accordance with specified guidelines. Existing law requires each pupil completing grade 12 to satisfy certain requirements as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation from high school. These requirements include the completion of designated coursework in grades 9 to 12, inclusive. Existing law authorizes a governing board of a school district to adopt other coursework requirements.
This bill would require, commencing with the 2018–19 school year, the governing board of a school district or the governing body of a charter school that requires a course in health education for graduation from high school to include instruction in performing compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as provided. The bill would encourage those entities to provide to pupils general information on the use and importance of an automated external defibrillator. The bill would require the State Department of Education to provide guidance on how to implement these provisions, including, but not limited to, who may provide instruction.

Michigan:

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 SEC. 1168.
BY NOT LATER THAN THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENSURE THAT THE MODEL CORE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM CONTENT STANDARDS FOR HEALTH EDUCATION AND THE SUBJECT AREA CONTENT EXPECTATIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR HEALTH EDUCATION UNDER SECTION 1278A PROVIDE FOR THE FOLLOWING: INSTRUCTION IN CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION FOR PUPILS 7 ENROLLED IN GRADES 7 TO 12.

Full text legislation links:
California
Michigan

Now what can YOU do?

1. Contact your senators!
   Michigan
   California
2. Get involved at your local school!
   Students can Submit their schools here
   Teachers can Register their schools here
3. Follow us on social media for updates as they emerge!

Together, we are already making a difference! More than one million high school students are trained in CPR annually with the cooperation of more than 37,000 high schools!

Join our cause and support our mission
#BecauseLifeMatters

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Have you ever dreamed of being ‘saved’ by your favorite celebrity? Come on, admit it, maybe at least once?  Well, ladies and gentlemen…your dreams have become reality! A-listers and reality TV stars are saving people across the globe.

Thank goodness these celebs were in the right place at the right time and most importantly, brave enough to jump in and take action! Here are a few examples of celebrities who have brought their heroic screen personas to life in a very real, life saving way:

While attending the Toronto Film Festival back in 2001, Matthew McConaughey lept into action and performed CPR on a woman after she suffered from a seizure. McConaughey was applauded for his efforts by other bystanders who remarked he jumped in and did something when others didn’t know what to do.

Clint Eastwood was a bystander at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tournament, when he noticed someone was choking on an appetizer. Eastwood jumped in and performed the Heimlich maneuver, which ended up saving the man’s life! Thank goodness the veteran cowboy took quick action that ended up paying off.

Two more A-listers who can add “lifesavers” to their resume are Dustin Hoffman and Jennifer Lawrence. When Hoffman was in London, a jogger collapsed suddenly in front of him. He called the paramedics and stayed by the man’s side until they arrived. Lawrence found herself in a similar situation when she was walking her dog in Santa Monica and a woman collapsed in front of her. She and another bystander tried to revive the woman, called for help, and waited for paramedics to arrive on the scene.  

Two reality TV stars also took immediate action and both performed CPR when faced with sudden tragic events. Omarosa of the TV series “The Apprentice,” immediately jumped in and performed CPR after calling 911, when her boyfriend at the time (Michael Clarke Duncan ofThe Green Mile)  was suffering a heart attack. She was able to keep him alive until medical personnel arrived at the scene and Duncan made a full recovery! While vacationing in Hawaii with his wife, Jack Osbourne (son of Ozzy Osbourne), noticed a woman who was having trouble in the water. He and a friend came to her aid and it turned out the woman was not only drowning, but having a heart attack as well. Osbourne, who has had extensive CPR training, resuscitated the woman and stayed with her until paramedics arrived.

These are only a few celebrities who courageously did what most people do not do in emergency situations and that is SOMETHING.  Taking action, having confidence and the removal of fear are key factors for lay responders and were performed beautifully in the examples above.

The honest truth is, when emergency situations arise, there is no such thing as celebrity. We are all just human beings helping human beings.

We all have it within us,
#BecauseLifeMatters

The post 6 Celebrities that Became Lifesavers to Ordinary People appeared first on School CPR.

In the 2017-2018 school year, High school students in Missouri will be required to have CPR training as a graduation requirement. Some schools are already including this, and other, training within their curriculum; Columbia Public Schools being one of these schools. The Law was signed by Governor Nixon in June of 2016 and will require 30 minute training in both cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the Heimlich maneuver.

As the state government regulates this life saving training in schools, teachers and administrators are put in the difficult position to make a choice of how to fulfill this requirement.

From House Bill No. 457 at the 98TH General Assembly:

Instruction shall be based on a program established by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross, or through a nationally recognized program based on the most current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines, and psychomotor skills development shall be incorporated into the instruction.

For a link to the entire bill go here to read it for yourself, or here to get the quick recap.

These Missouri schools have already chosen to use our program:

Mountain Grove School District
Northeast High School
Windsor High School
Liberty Middle School
North St. Francois County R-I School District

Last year, alone, over 30,000 students across the United States were certified using the StudentCPR program. We aim to add many more students and schools in missouri to this year’s list.

If your school doesn’t have CPR/AED training, please contact us! If you already have training, leave a comment below (or Facebook / Twitter) and tell us what you think!

Extras:
Is CPR/AED training required for graduation in my state?
https://schoolcpr.com/requirements/

Where can I sign up?
Students can Submit their schools here:
https://schoolcpr.com/our-schools/submit-your-school/
Teachers can Register their schools here:
https://www.studentcpr.com/en/

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