Michigan Senate health committee progresses bills for improved cardiac response in schools
LANSING, Mich. — "These bills will save lives," Alexander Bowerson, a cardiac arrest survivor, testified to the Michigan Senate Committee on Health Policy in Lansing.
Wednesday, committee members voted to pass House Bills 5527-5528, legislation aiming to make sure athletic facilities and events at schools, both public and private, have the tools necessary to respond to a cardiac emergency, according to officials.
Specifically, if signed into law, the bills would require schools with an athletic department or athletic program to develop a cardiac emergency response plan, or CERP, that establishes steps to respond to a cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency, according to Rep. Tyrone Carter (D - Detroit).
It aims to go into effect for the 2025-2026 school year.
"Simply put, this legislation would save lives," Carter said. "These bills improve school safety by requiring schools to develop cardiac emergency response plans and offer training access to automated external defibrillators, AEDs, which are used the help those with heart issues. Specifically, the bills require an AED to be accessible within 1-3 minutes of a cardiac emergency and require certification in AED training."
Each year in the United States, about 356,000 people experience cardiac arrests outside of the hospital.
However, only 10% of those people survive, according to Cindie DeWolf, mission advancement advisor for the American Heart Association.
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"That's because only 40% of people get the immediate help they need before the emergency responders arrive," DeWolf said. "It's often everyday heroes who are the first line of defense in a cardiac arrest."
With 1.4 million students enrolled in Michigan's public schools, CERPs are "particularly important" in school settings.
“Schools are a nucleus for community events, plays, concerts, and athletic events, so by creating the next Nation of Lifesavers, we can ensure all those gathering at schools or athletic events know what to do in the event of a cardiac emergency,” DeWolf said.
In addition to ensuring that schools have the means to respond to a cardiac arrest, both pieces of legislation aim to ensure the following:
- Provide guidance around placement, maintenance and use of an AED
- Ensure all coaches are trained in CPR and AED use as CPR, if done immediately, can nearly triple a person's chance of survival
For Bowerson, the pair of bills could lead to "incredible outcomes" for others who may experience a cardiac arrest like he did.
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"I wish I did not have to say that I was lucky and other kids should all have this opportunity of life-saving equipment, someone who knows what to do which a lot of the times if that thing is there," Bowerson said. "There is a kid out there right now who's having fun with his friends, he or she's friends playing sports, happy to be alive, ready for college or whatever life has to bring them. One day, they are going to go into cardiac arrest, and it is up to these bills to decide if there is going to be life-saving equipment nearby to save their lives."
As of Wednesday, both pieces of legislation move to the full Senate for approval before the Michigan House considers an amendment that included private schools.
Before being signed into law, both of the House bills must be passed in both the House and Senate before being sent to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk for final consideration.