CPR/AED Training for High School Students Increases Bystander Intervention

Each year in the United States, Sudden Cardiac Arrests (SCAs) claim the lives of over 23,000 children and adolescents, according to the American Heart Association. Additionally, four percent of high schools in the country experience at least one sudden cardiac arrest each year.

Research by the American College of Cardiology shows that states with laws requiring CPR/automated external defibrillator (AED) training in high school have higher rates of bystander CPR (BCPR) saves after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) than states with no CPR education laws, thus saving more lives.

CPR/AED Training of Youth Saves Lives in the Community

Educating our youth benefits communities. When high schoolers are trained as part of their standard curriculum, they can take those skills out into the community. When faced with life-or-death emergencies, such as cardiac arrests, they can confidently take action, potentially saving lives.

This is especially beneficial in rural, underserved, or minority communities where there are lower rates of Bystander CPR (BCPR).

“High school students will become the next generation of bystanders who can provide CPR and AED use, once they are educated. Those trained as students are likely to be in homes or community sites where cardiac arrests commonly occur.”
– Victoria Vetter, MD, MPH, an attending cardiologist, and cardiac electrophysiologist in the Division of Cardiology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

States Requiring CPR Training in High Schools

More and more states are realizing the value and benefit of CPR training requirements. As of now, the following states are requiring CPR training.

1. Alabama (Acts 1983, No. 83-510, p. 719, §§1-4.)
2. Arkansas (Act 1016 – Approved April 8, 2013)
3. California (AB 1719 – Approved September 24, 2016)
4. Connecticut (Bill No. 962 – Signed June 23, 2015)
5. Delaware (Title 14 Education 1.1.3.4 – Effective no later than 2015-2016 school year – also HB 249 – Class of 2017)
6. District of Columbia (Washington D.C.) – (D.c. ACT 21-488 – Signed August 18, 2016)
7. Georgia (SB 212, HB 217)
8. Idaho (State DOE 08-0203-1306)
9. Illinois (HB3724 – Lauren Laman Bill became law June 5, 2014 when Governor Pat Quinn signed Public Act 098-0632, effective July 1, 2014) *
10. Indiana (HEA 1290 – Signed March 31, 2014) **
11. Iowa (SF 2425 “Healthy Kids Act”)
12. Kentucky (SB33 – Signed April 9, 2016)
13. Louisiana (HB 542 – Signed June 6, 2014)
14. Maine (HP0380 – Approved June 4, 2015)
15. Maryland (SB 503 “Breanna’s Law” – Signed April 14, 2014)
16. Michigan (SB 647 Signed on December 28, 2016)
17. Minnesota (HF 2506 – Signed April 23, 2012)
18. Mississippi (HB 432 – Signed March 31, 2014)
19. Missouri (SB 711 – Effective 2017-2018)
20. Montana (SB 135 – Signed April 13, 2017)
21. Nevada (AB 414 – Signed June 5, 2013, AB 85 – Effective July 1, 2017)
22. New Jersey (A 2072 – Approved August 20, 2014)
23. New Mexico (SB 1 and HB 104 – Signed March 2, 2016, effective 2017-2018)
24. New York (Effective October 7, 2015)
25. North Carolina (HB 837 – Signed July 26, 2012)
26. Ohio (GA 131 – HB113, effective 2017-2018)
27. Oklahoma (HB 1378 “Dustin Rhodes and Lindsay Steed CPR Training Act”- Signed May 16, 2014)
28. Oregon (SB 79 – Effective 2015-2016)
29. Rhode Island (SB 318, HB 5376 – Approved June 24, 2013)
30. South Carolina (H 3265 – Signed on April 21, 2016, effective 2017-2018)
31. South Dakota (SB 140 – Approved March 10,2017)
32. Tennessee (HB 2086 – Enacted in 2002; HB 1519, SB 1680 “Carmen Burnette Act of 2012” – Signed March 13, 2012)
33. Texas (HB 897 – Signed June 14, 2013)
34. Utah (State DOE – Effective 2014-2015 school year)
35. Vermont (S 245 – Approved May 16, 2012)
36. Virginia (HB 2028, SB 986 – Approved March 18, 2013)
37. Washington (HB 1556 – Approved May 8, 2013; Effective date July 28, 2013)
38. West Virginia (Approved Feb. 24, 2015)
39. Wisconsin (AB 725, more – Signed May 10, 2010; Effective beginning with 2011-2012 school year)

For a complete list of the latest data and legislation per state, visit the CPR in Schools Legislation Map by the American Heart Association.

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