Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation Urges Passage of H.B. 1803

Harrisburg, PA--The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Education Committee, chaired by  James R. Roebuck (D), and Paul Clymer (R), announced it will hear testimony regarding readiness for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in schools across the Commonwealth on Wednesday, February 10th at 9:00 am at the Matthew Ryan Office Building in Harrisburg.

Due to inclement weather, the hearing has be postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date.

If passed, the legislation, introduced by John J. Siptroth (D), would require schools to offer training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and  make training in CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) available to district employees and volunteers on school premises at least once every three years.

The bill also calls for:

·      Development of a response plan for cardiac emergencies in schools

·      Mandatory CPR/AED training of teachers, administrators, school nurses, athletic coaches and trainers, marching band directors and every student who serves as an athletic trainer

·      A cardiovascular screening pilot program for sixth grade students

·      More widespread placement of AEDs in schools, to be funded in part by donations to the Department of Education.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation Board Member, David Belkin, Esq., will testify in support of the legislation during the hearing. Belkin, of Bethesda, MD, was resuscitated at Lakeside Elementary in Honesdale, Penn., on February 18, 2007. “Without the availability of the AED, I most likely would not be here,” says Belkin.

The AED had been placed at the school  through the efforts of Rachel Moyer, whose son, Gregory, died from SCA at age 15 during a high school basketball game in December 2000. Moyer has been spearheading the advocacy effort.

“Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at anytime and the only defense is to be prepared. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation strongly supports H.B. 1803 and urges passage of  what is surely to be  lifesaving legislation,” said Mary Newman, Foundation President.

For more information, see H.B. 1803 (attached).