American Heart Association Appauds New York State Senate Passage of CPR in Schools Bill

The New York State Senate unanimously passed the CPR in Schools bill in a vote today.  The bill calls for CPR and AED instruction to be given in New York State schools and mandates that it should be included as part of the curriculum for all students prior to graduation.

Republican Senator Mark Grisanti from Buffalo sponsored the bill in memory of Madison McCarthy of Evans, NY who died at the age of 5 because CPR was not started quickly enough.

The CPR in Schools bill moves on to the Assembly Rules Committee.  It will then progress to the full Assembly.  Following Assembly approval the bill will be sent to Governor Cuomo for his signature.

17 other states have already passed CPR legislation.  Hands-only CPR and the basic use of an AED machine can be taught in one class period at little or no cost to school districts.

According to statistics from the American Heart Association nearly 424,000 people suffer out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest each year.  Just over 10% survive.  With CPR the chances of survival increase to double or triple that figure.