"Dead Man Walking," Saved in Elementary School, Among Those to Testify

Harrisburg, Penn--The SCA Foundation was among 20 organizations and individuals testifying in support of Pennsylvania House Bill 1803 on April 21, during a House Education Committee hearing chaired by Rep. James R. Roebuck and Rep. Paul I. Clymer. The bill, sponsored by Rep. John J. Siproth, amends the public school code to expand training in CPR and use of automated external defibrillators, expand AED deployment, and create a cardiovascular screening program.

According to the House analysis, the bill calls for the following:

• School entities--including districts, intermediate units, area vocational-technical and charter schools--must make CPR and AED training available as an option to employees.
• Each teacher, administrator, school nurse, assistant school nurse, athletic coach or sponsor, marching band director, athletic trainer, cheerleading coach, and any other school employee specified by the Secretary of Education and each student who serves as an athletic trainer must participate in the instruction in use of an AED.
• Nonpublic and private schools that receive an AED from the Department of Education or an outside agency supplying AEDs or funding to purchase or lease AEDs must develop similar instructional policies for employees and volunteers.
• Section 1205.6, Procedures Regarding Response to Cardiac Arrest, will be added to the school code and schools that receive an AED or funding to purchase an AED must comply with these standards.
• Section 1205.7, Donations for Use Related to CPR and AED Instruction, will be added to the school code to allow the Department of Education to accept and distribute donations to provide CPR and AED instruction and equipment. These donations are not limited to school entities but also include facilities that provide summer school in state colleges and universities.
• Section 1402.1, Cardiovascular Screening Pilot Program) will be added to the school code to establish a pilot program for sixth grade students to undergo cardiovascular screening, including electrocardiograms and echocardiograms.
• Section 1423.1, Availability and Specification of AEDs, will be added to the school code. This requires every school entitiy, nonpublic and private school to have at least one AED in each occupied building on the school's premises or camppus at all times. During school-sponsored interscholastic athletics, the school must ensure the presence of an AED and at least one school employee or EMS personnel during these activities. The Good Samaritan civil immunity under 42 Pa. C.S. 8331.2 regarding use of AEDs shall apply to school employees who render care. All AEDs must be tested according to manufacturer guidelines and Department of Health requirements must be met.

David Belkin, Esq.*, a member of the Board of Directors of the SCA Foundation and Philadelphia native who has a home in Lake Ariel, PA, testified in support of the bill. "I am a dead man walking," he said, "not because I was on death row, but because I died and was brought back to life after I collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest." Belkin's event occurred at Lakeside Elementary School  in Honesdale, PA, in February 2007.  "If it were not for the use of that AED, I would not be here speaking to you today," he said.

Mary Newman*, SCA President, also testified in support of the bill. She emphasized that SCA is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and she highlighted a new landmark study that shows that survival from SCA increases from 7% to 38% when an AED is used by a bystander. "Passage of 1803 will not only make schools safer for students, it will make schools safer for everyone in the school community--including teachers, coaches, administrators, parents and grandparents."

Victoria Vetter, MD, MPH*, a pediatric cardiologist, voiced her support. Vetter, Medical Director of Youth Heart Watch, and Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, has cared for thousands of children and families from Pennsylvania affected by SCA. Dr. Vetter noted that a study from the state of Washington found that cardiac arrests in schools affect visitors (46%), staff (34%), and students (12%), with 7% undetermined. Further, she said, anticipating objections related to cost implications, about 60% of AEDs in schools nationwide have been donated.

Dr. Janet Lioy,* Medical Director, Neonatal Outreach Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, echoed this sentiment.  "I challenge anyone to say AEDs are not cost-effective," she said. "AEDs are a small price to pay to keep our children safe."

Rachel and John Moyer,* from Shawnee on Delaware, organized the outpouring of support for the bill. Their son, Gregory died from SCA in 2000 at a high school in Pennsylvania that was not equipped with an AED. They were instrumental in the creation of PA  legislation in 2001 that resulted in distribution of two AEDs for each school district in the Commonwealth. "There is no greater loss than that of a child, especially when it might have been prevented with the use of an onsite AED..." said Mrs. Moyer, "unless it is the loss of a second child under the same circumstances."

Others testifying in support of the bill include:

• Dave Bianco, EMT-P, Allison Park, PA, President and CEO, CPR Simplicity, LLC, and AED Coordinator for Pittsburghers United for Life Saving Emergencies (PULSE)
• Jack Creighton, Teacher, Philadelphia, PA
• Tom Foley, PA State Relations Representative and John Hughes, Regional Executive, American Red Cross
• Rhonda Foster, RN,* Parent, Harrisburg, PA, whose 15-year-old daughter, Janna, died from SCA in 2002
• Andrew Greubel, Newton, PA,12-year-old Student, St. Andrew Catholic School, whose science project addressed the need for AEDs in schools, and  son of Dr. Janet Lioy*
• Denise Kerr, EdD, Rose Tree, PA, Superintendent, Rose Tree Media School District, and mother of Justin, who has a rare congenital heart condition*
• Kelly Lewis, Hershey, PA, Former State Representative, Original Sponsor of Pennsylvania's AED ACT, President and CEO of TechQuest Pennsylvania*
• Danielle Main, Program Coordinator, Youth Heart Watch, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia*
• Kathryn McCarter, Lansdale, PA, American Heart Association CPR Instructor, Training Center Coordinator, Regional Faculty and Chairperson of the Southeastern PA/Delaware Regional Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee
• Marcus Owens, Newark, DE, whose 21-year-old nephew, Daniel Rumph, died from SCA in 2005
• Janet Ostoyich, RN, Council Rock, PA, School Nurse
• Tony Pellegrini, Parent, Yardley, PA, mother of Louis Savino, died from SCA in 2000
• Mark J. Peters, Childhood Friend of Gregory Moyer, who survived SCA in 2009
• Joseph Russell, EMT-P, Philadelphia, PA, head of a CPR-AED
  awareness organization founded by paramedics in the Philadelphia Fire
  Department
• Lorraine Sikora, Newton, PA, Parent, whose 15-year-old nephew, Louis Savino, died from SCA in 2000
• Darren Sudman, Plymouth Meeting, PA, whose three-month old son, SImon, died from SCA in 2005
• Lisa Salsberg, CEO/Founder, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association
• Thomas F. West PhD, AC, President, Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society.

*Submitted written testimony and testified in person during the hearing

School nurse, Janet Ostoyich  said she considers AEDs to be "an insurance policy for children in my charge."

Mr. Moyer captured the day's sentiment when he said," Pennsylvania's schools should be safe havens for their students. Safe havens from hunger, drug abuse and violence. The passage of HB 1803 will also make them safe havens from cardiac arrest. I urge you to to support HB 1803 and to face those, head on, who decry the lack of funds to implement its components. Make Pennsylvania's schools safe for our most precious assets--our children."