By Andrea Cordle
Southwest Editor
State Representative Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) wants more people to learn life saving skills. She is now closer to that goal.
Last week, the Ohio House Education Committee unanimously passed House Bill 113, legislation that would require CPR training for high school students.
Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) sponsored the bill with Grossman.
“I truly believe if we are able to educate the next generation with this lifesaving training, that many lives will be saved,” said Grossman.
The legislation would require students in grades 9 through 12 to receive CPR training through the use of an automated external defribillator. It would also have students practice hands-on training.
“I am pleased to see how the importance of this bill will impact saving lives,” said Grossman. “A victim who receives CPR is often two or three times more likely to survive and I am confident that this hand-on training will demonstrably increase the skills and confidence needed in an emergency situation.”
According to the American Heart Association, every hour in the United States, approximately 48 people will have a cardiac arrest event outside of a hospital or care facility. Nine out of 10 of those victims will not survive. However, CPR could double or triple ones chance of survival.
Brianne Harman, communications director with the American Heart Association, said this legislation would create an entire generation of life savers.
“This would ensure students got hands-on training,” she said. “It does not require students to become CPR certified.”
According to the bill, instructors would not have to be certified. Current educators or school staff could teach the course.
Harman said this training would be no cost to low cost for Ohio school districts. She said the no cost option would be for the school district to partner with its local fire department and have a paramedic teach the students basic CPR. The low cost option would be for the school district to purchase an American Heart Association school training kit.
Harman said the kits are as low as $1 per student.
The kit aims to empower students to learn the basic skills of CPR in less than 30 minutes and it teaches AED skills, as well as choking relief. It includes a miniature inflatable manikin, an inflation pump, a training DVD, 50 replacements airways and facemasks.
The state representatives each reached out to their local school district. Grossman said she had been in contact with leaders at South-Western City Schools about the training and Manning worked with a district near Akron.
“The schools were very supportive,” said Grossman. “We need to work together to make the next generation comfortable with CPR.”
Now that the bill has passed the house education committee, Grossman said she is hopeful the bill will be on the house floor in the near future. The bill would then move on to the State Senate.
