Under the initiative of Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted, the Ohio Department of Health has now officially released a Model Emergency Action Plan to assist during cardiac emergencies at schools and sports venues quickly. This plan, made mandatory by House Bill 47, signed in July and taking effect today, aims to ensure that Ohioans, especially school staff and youth sports coaches, are trained and prepped to use Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). "Every second counts when someone suffers a sudden cardiac arrest. It’s the number one killer of student-athletes in America," said Governor DeWine in a statement obtained by the Governor of Ohio's office.
Emphasizing the urgency, the Governor of Ohio added, "But we also know that the vast majority who get immediate help from an AED survive." The new law sets an important precedent, mandating that AEDs be installed in all public and chartered nonpublic schools and municipal sports venues, with specific exceptions for smaller townships. It also obliges these institutions to suddenly adopt and regularly practice an emergency action plan, aiming to transform bystanders into potential lifesavers.
Concurring with the life-saving potential of AEDs, Lt. Governor Husted highlighted, "The use of an AED is simple, but powerful, and by equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to take quick action, we are empowering Ohioans to make a real difference when an emergency arises." The plan provides a straightforward, step-by-step protocol that can be followed even by those without medical training. Ohioans are encouraged by the model plan to practice the protocol at least quarterly, a requirement that is also supported by ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, who told the press through the Governor of Ohio's website, "We hope it will support life-saving first response for someone suffering from sudden cardiac arrest in their facilities."
House Bill 47 not only puts AEDs into the hands of more Ohioans, but it also sets out to thoroughly educate those involved with youth sports about the signs and symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest. Schools and youth sports organizations are now also required to inform and adequately train their personnel officially every sports season. According to the CDC, over 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur annually in the U.S. Therefore, this new Ohio law could significantly increase the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest victims with timely AED intervention. As the American Heart Association points out, quick action with an AED can vastly improve survival rates, with nine out of ten cardiac arrest victims likely to live if they receive a shock from an AED within the first minute after an incident.
