Indiana Win: Lawmakers Maintain Cardiac Safety Requirements

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After a wave of advocacy, comments, and testimony, Indiana lawmakers have decided to keep requirements for schools to have cardiac emergency response plans and defibrillators at school events. This is a win for students and families.  Studies of school AED programs show that when AEDs and trained responders are immediately available, survival from sudden cardiac arrest can exceed 70 percent - much higher than typical out-of-hospital survival.

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The proposal in the House Education Committee (HB 1004) would have repealed key school cardiac safety requirements enacted just last year, which ensure:

• Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at school-related events

• Emergency Action Plans tailored for school venues

• CPR training for coaches

 

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death among young people. Repealing these provisions would have moved Indiana backward on student safety.