Life-saving legislation requires cardiac emergency response plans in Oklahoma public schools - MetroFamily Magazine
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Life-saving legislation requires cardiac emergency response plans in Oklahoma public schools

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On July 10, 2024, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1921 requiring all public schools and school athletic facilities to adopt cardiac emergency response plans, also known as CERPs.

A CERP is a written document that establishes specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in school settings. The bill was introduced by state Sen. Paul Rosino and state Rep. Bob Ed Culver and was passed by the Oklahoma Legislature during its 2024 session. The American Heart Association, founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition established by the NFL in 2023, and You’re the Cure advocates worked alongside the legislators to get SB 1921 over the finish line.

More than 356,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital in the United States each year. Currently, 10% of those people will survive, most likely because there were people nearby prepared to take action. CPR, if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.

It is estimated that about 23,000 children under the age of 18 experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital annually in this country. Of those child-related cardiac arrest incidents, about 40% are sports-related. Whether in the classroom or on the playing field, having a plan in place to enable faculty, staff and students to quickly and correctly respond to a cardiac emergency can save lives.  In schools with AEDs, approximately 70% of children survive cardiac arrest – seven times the overall survival rate for children.

Starting retroactively to July 1, Oklahoma schools will be required to develop a cardiac emergency response team, activate the cardiac emergency response team during an identified cardiac emergency, place and maintain AEDs (automatic external defibrillators), train school staff in CPR and AED use, and review and evaluate the plan each year.

“The passage of SB 1921 is a monumental step forward for our state and addresses an issue that hits close to home,” said Rosino. “I am thankful for the overwhelming support of this legislation to ensure Oklahoma public schools are equipped with plans to administer immediate lifesaving care.”

“This legislation puts plans in place much like a tornado drill or emergency evacuation plan and will help equip Oklahoma schools to be prepared in the case of cardiac events,” said Buffalo Bills athletic trainer Denny Kellington.

Kellington is a member of the athletic trainer team responsible for saving Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s life in 2021 after he collapsed during a Monday Night Football game.

“I have nieces and nephews in Oklahoma schools and knowing that these plans will be in place for them makes me feel confident in our schools in cases of cardiac emergencies,” Kellington said.

 

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