By AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION NEWS
Next fall, all South Carolina students attending public school will be required to learn CPR before they graduate from high school.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signed legislation this week requiring hands-on cardiopulmonary resuscitation be incorporated in the high school health education curriculum.
With the bill’s passage, the state became the 30th in the nation to require CPR training from its students.
“We have been working so hard on this legislation for the past four years, and it is great to finally see the result of our hard work today,” said Coleman Maness, whose life was saved when a bystander performed CPR after he suffered sudden cardiac arrest. “This bill will ensure that other cardiac arrest victims will have a greater chance at survival.”
According to American Heart Association statistics, about 38 people each hour have a cardiac arrest event while not in a hospital, and nine of 10 don’t survive. Receiving CPR, however, can double or even triple the victim’s chances of survival.
Kentucky and New Mexico also have passed laws this year requiring CPR to be taught in school. But Wisconsin may soon also join them. The state has an approved bill awaiting the governor’s signature.
In Missouri, lawmakers also have inched closer to passing its own CPR bill, one that also would require students to receive instruction in first aid for choking. The bill received approval in the House last month still is making its way through the Senate, where a similar bill stalled last year.
A CPR in schools bill also has been introduced in Michigan, where sponsors have publicly championed the measure.
[…] to prevent deaths by equipping citizens with the life-saving skill. South Carolina recently joined the bandwagon, becoming the 30th state to do […]
[…] To view an interactive map of other states requiring CPR for graduation please visit the AHA Website: AHA News […]
…A requirement meaning a (fail) grade if you don’t pass or don’t want to?…… I don’t know that it should be a requirement, but it should definitely be a choice. You may get a better turn out than you think….instead of forcing someone to do what they don’t want to do….or even perhaps not ready to do…. Then you’ll have another issue on your hands…. I’m just sayn…
My husband and I were discussing this a few days ago since our grandson stays with us most of the time. He’s only 12 yrs-old, although we thought it’s a sufficient age to learn CPR.
Also, living in Hawaii we are surrounded by water, and the elderly some of the reasons we may need to give CPR at some point.
Hope it’s implemented in Hawaii systems.
My comment is to Leslie who commented above… There are many courses that students are forced to take in school hence they end up succeeding regardless. This is a vital life lesson that they should be given a chance to learn by way of a requirement. You’d probably be surprised at the # of students who would not mind if it was required. When my boys were young scouts they learned survival skills that too should be a requirement. Again, another vital life skill. We pay too much in taxes for our students to be deprived of these fundamental life saving skills that we can’t teach at home. Yes they should fail if they don’t pass CPR but with an option to retake. Better that than failing a real life scenario of not being educated to save a loved one’s life. Don’t you agree?
I live in a rural area in Illinois and was thrilled to hear my neice talking about this class being offered at our local high school. Yes, this is a skill that you hope you NEVER have to use but I would much rather know what to do if an event should arise. I feel it’s a great class to offer students because it’s something they will take with them , could possibly have to use anywhere and could save a life.
I think this is wonderful news. All people, regardless of their age should learn basic First Aid and CPR at some point. Requiring it in schools makes it that much easier to teach our future generations. CPR is such a lifesaving technique there really are no excuses for not learning at least the basics. However, if you have surpassed your high school years, I would still recommend getting professional training so that you know what to do in the case of a real emergency. With 9 out of every 10 victims of sudden cardiac arrest, it is time we do something to help lower that number, starting with teaching everyone CPR.