The New York State Assembly is considering a bill that would require teachers to know how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED). The training would be a requirement for getting a state teacher’s license.

Assembly Bill A09367, sponsored by Assemblyman Dennis  H. Gabryszak, was inspired by a constituent who is a CPR and AED advocate. Charles Markel, a member of the Cheektowaga town council, had two children suffer sudden cardiac arrest. One child died; the other was revived using CPR and an AED.

A 2002 state law mandates AEDs in New York schools, but currently the only school staff required to have CPR and AED training are nurses, physical education instructors, and athletic coaches. The proposed legislation would require CPR and AED training as a part of teacher licensing. Teachers who are currently licensed would have two years in which to get the training.

Gabryzsak’s bill has been referred to the Assembly’s education committee.

The bill has its roots in a local resolution developed by Cheektowaga town council member Charles Markel. He has been an advocate of CPR training since 2002, after his son 11-year-old son Ryan drowned in a pool during a school gym class. The Buffalo News reports Charles and Sandy Markel started Ryan’s Hope Foundation in their son’s memory, training thousands of people in the Buffalo area in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. One of the first to benefit from the community training was the Markel’s 18-year-old daughter. When she collapsed at home from sudden cardiac arrest, the family put their training to work, doing CPR until emergency services arrived and used an AED to restore her heartbeat.

The New York legislature is currently considering bills pertaining to transportation of AEDs, funding for school AEDs, tax credits for organizations purchasing AEDS, and requirements for placing AEDs in public locations. These include:

• S03677 — Would require AEDs in assisted living facilities and presence of staff with CPR training.

• S01324 — Would require the port authority of New York and New Jersey to make AEDs available in major airports; train airport personnel in their use; and make arrangements so that the activation of an AED would alert emergency services.

• A04444 — Would require AEDs and golf courses; includes provisions for staff or volunteer training.

• A07710 — Would require the commission of health to provide each nursing home in the state with an AED.

• A06981 — Would require AEDS in state police barracks, sub-stations, and vehicles.

• A01246 — Would require public buildings, stadiums, arenas and convention centers in cities with a population above 1,000,000 to be equipped with AEDs and have employees trained in AED use.

Questions? Ideas? Please contact AED Expert Marc Savino. He knows an awful lot on the subject and can get you started.

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