BILL REQ. #:  H-0989.1 

Read first time 01/30/13.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to initiatives in high schools to save lives in the event of cardiac arrest; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.230 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that more than three hundred sixty thousand people in the United States experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital every year, and only ten percent survive because the remainder do not receive timely cardiopulmonary resuscitation. When administered immediately, cardiopulmonary resuscitation doubles or triples survival rates from cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time. Many victims appear healthy and have no known heart disease or other risk factors. The legislature finds that schools are the hearts of our community, and preparing students to help with a sudden cardiac arrest emergency could save the life of a child, parent, or teacher. Washington state has a longstanding history of training members of the public in cardiopulmonary resuscitation with community-based training programs. The legislature finds that training students will continue the legacy of providing high quality emergency cardiac care to its citizens. Therefore, the legislature intends to create a generation of lifesavers by putting cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills in the hands of all high school graduates and providing schools with a flexible framework to prepare for an emergency.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) An automated external defibrillator is often a critical component in the chain of survival for a cardiac arrest victim.
     (2) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with school districts and stakeholder groups, shall develop guidance for a medical emergency response and automated external defibrillator program for high schools.
     (3) The medical emergency response and automated external defibrillator program must comply with current evidence-based guidance from the American heart association or other national science organization.
     (4) The office of the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the department of health, shall assist districts in carrying out a program under this section, including providing guidelines and advice for seeking grants for the purchase of automated external defibrillators or seeking donations of automated external defibrillators. The superintendent may coordinate with local health districts or other organizations in seeking grants and donations for this purpose.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28A.230 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Each school district that operates a high school must offer instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to students as provided in this section. Beginning with the graduating class of 2017 completion of the instruction is a requirement for passing at least one health and fitness class necessary for graduation.
     (2) Instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation under this section must:
     (a) Be an instructional program developed by the American heart association or the American red cross or be nationally recognized and based on the most current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
     (b) Include appropriate use of an automated external defibrillator; and
     (c) Incorporate hands-on practice in addition to cognitive learning.
     (3) School districts may offer the instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation directly or arrange for the instruction to be provided by available community-based providers. The instruction is not required to be provided by a certificated teacher. Certificated teachers providing the instruction are not required to be certified trainers of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A student is not required to earn certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to successfully complete the instruction for the purposes of this section.