WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Former Miss Arkansas Cori Keller and her father, Lynn Keller, both of Stuttgart, met with representatives of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation this week to advocate for legislation ensuring students and school staff are prepared for cardiac emergencies. The Kellers joined American Heart Association advocates in the nation’s capital to advance this bipartisan lifesaving legislation forward.
Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Research and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act. This act requires that schools nationwide be equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs), Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) and CPR training for staff and students. The U.S. Senate is now considering similar legislation, the Access to AEDs Act, with the goal is to get the bipartisan legislation passed by year’s end.
Cori Keller, a physician liaison at Baptist Health, also works as a freelance sports commentator for ESPN. Her father, a heart failure patient and the broadcast voice of the Stuttgart High School Ricebirds, witnessed a cardiac arrest firsthand when an official collapsed during a game and was saved by someone nearby ready to perform CPR.
On Nov. 19, the Kellers met with representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton and U.S. Representative French Hill.
Rep. Hill has already voted in favor, and Sen. Boozman is a co-sponsor of the bill.
“As we spoke with the staff members, they emphasized the importance of sharing our story and why we, as constituents, care about this legislation,” said Cori Keller. “It’s an honor to serve the state in this capacity and share our experiences to drive change.”
Having a plan in place and people nearby who know are prepared to take action can be the difference between life and death for the more than 350,000 people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year.
Every year, up to 23,000 children in the U.S. will experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. Student athletes are more than 3.5 times as likely to experience a cardiac arrest as non-athletes. Studies show that 1 in 300 youth has an undetected heart condition, and sports-related cardiac arrests account for almost 40% of all cardiac arrests in children 18 years old or younger. Early access to 911 and quick CPR are the first two links in the chain of survival.
Advocates nationwide are encouraged to text ‘AED’ to 46839 to contact their elected officials in Washington and urge them to pass these lifesaving bills by the end of the year.
SOURCE: American Heart Association