New Law Requires High School Students to Receive Hands-On CPR and AED Training
Taking action to prevent the tragic loss of life from sudden cardiac arrest,
Acting New Jersey Governor Kim Guadagno signed Assembly Bill No. 2072
into law, requiring high schools to provide students with hands-on training
in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external
defibrillator (AED).
"Put simply, this law will save lives," said Acting Governor
Guadagno. "These critical skills are easy to learn and, as we heard
today, can make all the difference in the world to someone in cardiac
arrest. Our actions today ensure that more residents than ever will be
equipped when the unthinkable happens."
Acting Governor Guadagno was joined by bill sponsors Senator Diane Allen
(R-Burlington) and Assemblymembers Angel Fuentes (D-Camden and Gloucester)
and Nancy Pinkin (D-Middlesex).
The bill was signed at Burlington Township Middle School, where, in June,
a collapsed student was revived by staff members trained in both CPR and
AED use. School nurse Nancy Andorko, one of those who helped the student,
spoke at the bill signing.
Laurie Heavener also spoke at the event, sharing her own experiences with
CPR. In 2008, Ms. Heavener collapsed as she was waiting to pick up her
daughter from a Girl Scouts meeting. A high school student, who had received
his CPR training certification card only the day before, happened to be
passing by and was able to apply his skills until emergency responders arrived.
"The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association thanks
Acting Governor Guadagno for signing this bill that will ensure high school
students learn CPR at school," said Dr. William Tansey, III, spokesperson
for the American Heart Association in New Jersey. "By teaching high
school students this important skill, New Jersey will be creating a generation
of lifesavers."
According to the American Heart Association, nearly 424,000 people suffer
cardiac arrest outside of the hospital each year, and less than 11% of
them survive. CPR and defibrillation are the only way to revive a cardiac
arrest victim, and survival rates can double or triple if CPR is administered
in the first few minutes after cardiac arrest. With every minute that
passes, there is a 10% reduction in survival rates.
The bill requires that the hands-on training provided to public and charter
high school students and that such training be based on instructional
programs established by the American Heart Association, the American Red
Cross or other nationally-recognized associations.
"These skills can be learned in thirty minutes or one class period.
Frankly, I can't think of a better use of a half hour," Acting
Governor Guadagno said.
CPR and AED certification courses are available from accredited organizations
throughout the State, including the
American Heart Association and the
American Red Cross.
Additional sponsors of the bill included Senator Joseph F. Vitale (D-Middlesex)
and Assemblymembers Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. (D-Middlesex), Annette Quijano
(D-Union) and Benjie E. Wimberley (D-Bergen and Passaic).