SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson’s measure to require athletic head coaches to learn life-saving techniques has passed.
“Coaches are often the first adult to respond when a medical emergency happens during a practice or competition,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Knowing how to respond can mean the difference between life and death giving someone experiencing cardiac arrest a critical chance to survive until first responders arrive.”
House Bill 3275 would require all paid school head coaches and chief sponsors of the sports activities to obtain training in CPR, first aid and the use of an AED. School districts would be required to conduct an annual cardiac response drill to practice the steps established in its cardiac emergency response plan. The drills would be able to be conducted without student participation.
According to the American Heart Association an estimated 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest in the US each year, and 90% of victims die unless someone nearby is trained to respond.
“In a cardiac emergency every second counts,” Johnson said. “Immediate action—including CPR and the use of an AED—can dramatically improve survival rates and give someone the best possible chance at recovery.”
House Bill 3275 passed the Senate Wednesday.
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