Submitted by SCAFoundation on Tue, 06/16/2015 - 8:25pm

TRENTON, NJ-- Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Bob Andrzejczak requiring defibrillators at youth sporting events advanced in the legislature on Thurs. with approval by the full Assembly. 

“The story has become all too familiar. A seemingly healthy young person playing a sport suddenly collapses on the field from an undiagnosed heart condition and never gets back up,” said Andrzejczak (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland). “Sudden cardiac arrest is the number one killer of student athletes. A properly administered defibrillator can boost a victim’s survival rate by 60 percent or more. This is more than enough reason to have a defibrillator available at youth sporting events.”

Beginning on September 1, 2015, the bill (A-3500) requires municipal or county recreation departments and nonprofit youth organizations (such as, Little Leagues, Babe Ruth Leagues, Pop Warner Leagues, Police Athletic Leagues, and youth soccer leagues), which organize, sponsor, or are otherwise affiliated with youth athletic events that are played on municipal, county, school, or other publicly-owned fields, to ensure that there is an AED available on site at each youth athletic event and practice held on the department’s or organization’s home field. 

The department or organization must designate one or more umpires, coaches or licensed athletic trainers who will be present at the athletic event or practice, to be responsible for ensuring that the AED is available on site. The designated umpire, coach or athletic trainer is required to be trained in CPR and the use of an AED in accordance with law.

Also, beginning September 1, 2015, a youth camp is required to ensure there is an AED available on site. The youth camp operator must ensure that access to an automated external defibrillator is available to the majority of the camp population within the timeframe recommended by authoritative sources including, but not limited to, the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or the American Academy of Pediatrics, based on the population served and the activities conducted at the youth camp. This requirement would not apply to camp trips, travel camps, or other off-site programs of the youth camp. The youth camp must designate one or more counselors, licensed athletic trainers or other staff members to be trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and the use of the defibrillator in accordance with law.

A recreation department, youth organization, or youth camp will be deemed to be in compliance with the AED requirement if a state-certified emergency services provider or other certified first responder is on site at the athletic event or practice and has an AED available for use on site. A recreation department, youth serving organization, youth camp and its employees and volunteer would be immune from civil liability in the acquisition and use of an AED.

The Assembly approved the measure 41-19-14. The bill was released by the Assembly Education Committee on May 11.

SOURCE: Cape May Herald