Tell Your Member of Congress that AEDs Save Lives

The President has once again proposed eliminating funding for a life-saving program that places automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in small communities and rural areas. Last year, Congress saved this program and they can do it again, but they need to hear from you today. Ask your member of Congress to support funding for increased AED placement that will save more American lives.

Click here to send your letter to Congress

Survivor pushing for school CPR training

From News-leader.com

JEFFERSON CITY — It may be impossible for Wheaton second grade teacher Sally Sharp to forget the incident in her classroom last year, even if she has a hard time recalling many of the details.

It was lunch time, and like most days, Sharp brought her meal back to her classroom. She was sitting down with co-workers when she felt suddenly faint.

“I think I remember trying to tell them I was dizzy,” Sharp said.

Sharp was suffering from an arrhythmic heart beat caused by a medication prescribed to her for a respiratory illness called croup. Her heart had stopped beating and Sharp lost consciousness.

Had it not been for a school nurse who knew cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a defibrillator, Sharp could have died in her classroom.

Sharp is now urging lawmakers to approve a bill that require all students to learn CPR before graduating from high school. The measure, which is House Bill 1337, received unanimous backing from a House committee last week. It now heads to the House floor.

“Personally, I would like to see everyone ... be (trained),” Sharp said.

The measure does not require students to be certified by American Red Cross standards, which might take more than six hours to accomplish. Instead, students are only required to have up to an hour of exposure in how to perform basic functions of CPR.

That should give the students enough knowledge and confidence to help in an emergency, said Rep. Rick Stream, a Republican from St. Louis who is sponsoring the bill.

“If I were in a position (to help) hopefully I would respond properly,” Stream said.

He added that he first learned CPR in the Navy and kept up training over the years.

The CPR bill has the backing of various public health organizations, including the American Heart Association. The organization held a training seminar for lawmakers earlier this session that is similar to what students would receive.

A person with even cursory training can help in the time between the start of a cardiac episode, such as a heart attack, and when medical care arrives, supporters say.

“We know time is critical as you are waiting for EMTs to arrive on the scene,” said Jace Smith, a lobbyist for the heart association.

Iowa and Alabama already require students to have training prior to graduation. Missouri school officials said they worry about the cost of obtaining CPR training materials. The bill does not provide financial support, which can be seen as an unfunded mandate and a violation of the state constitution.

The concern over mandates also led some senators to oppose the measure last year.

The heart association, American Red Cross and local emergency groups have indicated they could help defray the costs, Stream said.

Sharp said she intends to testify in favor of the measure if it comes up for a hearing in the Senate. It must first pass out of the House.

A vote on the House floor won’t take place until next week.