Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Education Committee |
HB 2294
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Establishing instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a graduation requirement.
Sponsors: Representatives Van De Wege, Jinkins, Eddy, Liias, Hudgins, Cody, Reykdal, Darneille and Ormsby.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/16/12
Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195).
Background:
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
Sudden cardiac arrest typically involves an abrupt electrical malfunction of the heart. This results in loss of pulse and blood pressure and the body, including the brain, is deprived of oxygenated blood. Death occurs quickly unless heart rhythm and an adequate pulse and blood pressure can be re-established.
CPR has been a longstanding treatment for sudden cardiac arrest. CPR combines rescue breaths with chest compressions and serves to oxygenate the blood with a combination of breathing and external chest compressions that pump the blood around the body.
Graduation Requirements.
In order to graduate from high school, there are a variety of requirements, including 20 credits in specified course areas, as illustrated in the following chart:
State High School Graduation Requirements
Course/Credits | Class of 2013 | Class of 2016 |
English | 3 | 4 |
Math | 3 | 3 |
Science | 2 (1 Lab) | 2 (1 Lab) |
Social Studies | 2.5 | 3 |
Arts | 1 | 1 |
Health Fitness | 2 | 1.5 .5 |
Occupational Ed | 1 | 1 |
Electives | 5.5 | 4 |
Total | 20 | 20 |
Summary of Bill:
A number of findings are made with respect to cardiac arrest:
More than 380 thousand people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, and only 11 percent survive.
When administered immediately, CPR doubles or triples survival rates from cardiac arrest.
Approximately 5,900 children age 18 and under suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year from all causes, including trauma, cardiovascular causes, and sudden infant death syndrome.
Five minutes can mean the difference between life and death, and if neither CPR nor defibrillation occurs within three to five minutes of collapse, the chances of survival drop significantly.
The Legislature expresses the intent to create a generation of lifesavers by putting CPR skills in the hands of all high school graduates in order to change the overall health of the community. Beginning with the graduating class of 2016, successful completion of instruction in CPR is required in order to graduate from high school. Instruction in CPR must:
be an instructional program developed by the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or be nationally recognized and based on the most current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for CPR;
include appropriate use of an automated external defibrillator; and
incorporate hands-on practice and skills testing in addition to cognitive learning.
All school districts, other than non-high districts, must make instruction in CPR available to students. Districts may offer the instruction directly or arrange for it to be provided by available community-based providers. Instruction need not be provided by a certificated teacher. If provided by a certificated teacher, the teacher is not required to be a certified trainer in CPR.
A student is not required to earn a certification in CPR in order to satisfy the graduation requirement. Completion of the instruction may occur at any time, including before entering high school, as long as the instruction meets the requirements above.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.