Davis Passes Bill to Prepare K-12 Schools to Respond to Cardiac Emergencies

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — To protect young people and encourage safe participation in athletics and afterschool activities, state Rep. Lisa Davis, D-Chicago, passed legislation that will require
schools to establish cardiac emergency teams, train head coaches to respond to emergencies and more.

“Too many students have lost their lives due to heart complications while playing sports or just simply being in school,” said Davis. “Our young people who engage in sports and physical activity push themselves to the limit and all students go to school to be safe, and they deserve to have adults nearby who have the knowledge to respond to cardiac arrest and other emergencies.”

Davis’ House Bill 3275 will emergency medical response standards in Illinois’ schools and youth activities by requiring schools to establish cardiac emergency teams. Additionally, head coaches and chief sponsors of activities must be trained on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillation (AED)

“This legislation is a proactive measure to ensure the effectiveness of cardiac response in schools across Illinois,” said Sarah Lackore, Illinois Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association. “It’s about ensuring our educators and coaches are equipped with tools they need to respond when the unthinkable happens, and giving parents the peace of mind to know our schools are prepared and ready to act.”

Davis’ House Bill 3277 passed with bipartisan support and now makes its way to the Senate for further consideration.