LANSING, Mich. – Two bills that would make Michigan schools more prepared to handle a cardiac arrest went before the Michigan Senate Health Policy Committee Wednesday, April 17.
There was a strong show of support during the testimony.
Automated external defibrillators (AED) are currently in some schools in Michigan, but not all. Some athletic coaches are trained in how to use them, but not all. House Bills 5527 and 5528 would ensure that all K-12 schools are ready to respond to a cardiac arrest.
“When we think about school safety, our minds go to shooters, trauma, but if we’re really about school safety, we would do this as well,” said Rep. Tyrone Carter.
Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes. Performing CPR and using an AED can significantly increase the chances of survival for someone experiencing cardiac arrest.
“We lost a student at my high school, a tennis player, who collapsed. there was no AED present,” recalled Sen. Kevin Hertel. “Obviously, this was years ago, and I often wonder now, with the technology we have available, would his life have been saved if that were to be there.”
According to the American Heart Association, roughly 70% of children survive cardiac arrest in schools with AEDs -- seven times more than the overall average.
Alex Bowerson is living proof. He suffered a cardiac arrest during wrestling practice and was saved by his high school’s cheerleading coach.
“I was shocked by an AED and it’s the only reason I’m here today,” Bowerson said. “Right now there is a kid playing sports and this kid is going to find themself in a cardiac emergency at some point and it is up to this bill or not whether that kid is going to have the opportunity I did, where they’re going to have access to an AED, where there is going to be somebody who knows how to use it, and if their life is going to be saved.”
The bills originally only included public schools, but they were amended to include private schools as well.
The bills move to the Michigan Senate for a final vote.