SALEM—All Oregon students will be trained in CPR, thanks to the recently passed state law that requires the lifesaving skill to be taught before graduation. Gov. Brown signed the Senate Bill 79 into law on Wednesday.
“The potential impact of 35,000 trained graduates every year is incredible and will be felt immediately in communities across the state,” said cardiologist and American Heart Association-Oregon Board Member, Robert Quintos.
Every 25 seconds someone has a heart attack and every 39 seconds someone dies of a heart attack. Sadly, most people, almost 90 percent, who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die because they don't receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene. But given right away, Hands-Only CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance for survival, according to the American Heart Association.
Starting in the 2015-2016 school year, school districts will be required to include CPR training in curriculum anytime between grades 7 through 12 in physical education or health education class. Hands-on training for simple CPR can be taught by teachers or community volunteers, and can be accomplished in one class period.
Survivors of sudden cardiac arrest, like Raoul Meekcoms, advocated in the State Capitol for the bill, sharing his story of unexpected collapse and rescue in his Tualatin home. “I am one of the lucky ones,” said Meekcoms. “I survived because my wife Sandra was with me and she knew how to perform CPR. Thanks to her courage and care, I survived that day, but most Oregonians do not. We can save more lives if more people know CPR.”
Advocates from across the state supported the bill, including students, teachers, physicians, hospitals, nurses, and Oregon’s EMS community. Alongside the American Heart Association, were 42 fire departments and EMS organizations, the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, Legacy Health, the Oregon Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, Oregon Health & Sciences University, and the Oregon Nurses Association.
Some local efforts are already at work in Oregon communities—including partnerships with local schools like the Jackson County CPR initiative, led by Medford Fire & Rescue, have trained over 1,205 students, more than half of the seventh graders in the county, in the 2013-14 school year.
The local support has been significant and in addition to Medford Fire & Rescue, includes Jackson County EMS, local chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Ashland Fire & Rescue, Jackson County Fire District #3, Asante Health System, local educators and the American Heart Association.
Fire Chief Mike Duyck of the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association advocated for the bill, testifying in the House and Senate. "The passage of Senate Bill 79 empowers Oregon's youth to save future generations of Oregonians who experience a cardiac arrest and might not otherwise survive," said Chief Duyck. "They worked tirelessly alongside adults to advocate for this bill, they prevailed, and now they stand ready to accept the responsibility they have earned and make a difference in the lives of others through hands-only CPR."
Oregon has become the 23rd state to require students learn CPR to graduate high school, joining other states that have passed school CPR requirements, including: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
About 326,000 Americans have an emergency medical services-assessed cardiac arrest outside of the hospital each year, and less than 11% survive, according to the American Heart Association.
As Julien Comardelle, a student at West Linn High School, said in his testimony supporting the bill last month: “Anyone can save a life and everyone should know how.”
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For more information about CPR in Schools in Oregon, contact: Sarah Higginbotham at the American Heart Association: [email protected] / 503-820-5308
