The American Heart Association actively pursues public policy to strengthen the Chain of Survival to ensure all patients receive proper care when experiencing an acute cardiovascular event. A strong emergency response system is a critical factor in saving the lives of victims of heart attack, cardiac arrest and stroke. Advocacy initiatives support for the purchase and appropriate use of CPR and automated external defibrillators within the context of a coordinated emergency response plan and cardiovascular surveillance systems. The following policy priorities give us the framework to pursue life-saving policy by strengthening the system of care.

At the federal level, we are actively working on the following priorities (click each to access the corresponding fact sheet):

Access to Emergency Care in Rural America
The AHA supports a restoration of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Rural and Community Access to Emergency Devices Program to its 2005 level. It allows states to buy and place automated external defibrillators where sudden cardiac deaths and likely to occur and trains first responders and lay rescuers in its use to improve survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest.

Josh Miller HEARTS Act
This legislation provides funding for schools to purchase AEDs and to train staff in the use of CPR and defibrillation.

At the state level, our policy priorities around CPR and AEDs are as follows:

Encourage Access and Use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
Champion public policy initiatives that promote the purchasing and placement of AEDs for first responders and targeted responders in high-risk locations. Remove obstacles for the purchase, placement, and usage of AEDs, including extending Good Samaritan law coverage to all AED users and program facilitators regardless of implementation of training or other program requirements.

Support the Establishment of Quality Community AED Programs
Assure that all public policy related to Community AED programs are consistent with the American Heart Association’s policy statements and guidelines. Assure that public policy regarding the placement of AEDs in schools incorporates training and medical emergency response plans in schools. Support efforts to appropriate funding to support the implementation of quality Community AED programs that follow AHA guidelines.

Promote CPR and AED Training for Both Professionals and Lay Rescuers as a Critical Part of the Chain of Survival
Support public policy initiatives that require CPR and AED training for licensure/certification of professionals that may need to respond to medical emergencies. Work to assure that AHA CPR and first aid training are recognized by licensing agencies that regulate professions that are required to have CPR and/or first aid training for licensure/certification. Support policies that encourage bystander CPR. Support CPR and AED training in schools with an emphasis on hands-on coursework.

When addressing the placement and use of AEDs, we focus often on Good Samaritan policy. Good Samaritan policy is a statute that protects a person from liability when voluntarily providing aid to someone in imminent danger. Such policies encourage both bystander CPR and AED use. Some of our states are working on strengthening the Good Samaritan policies to protect businesses from liabilities related to AED use to encourage the placement of AEDs in as many businesses as possible.
Throughout the rest of the week, we will be providing policy updates specific to each of our five states. Check back regularly or subscribe to keep up!

This post is part of our series on CPR/AED Awareness Week. To see all CPR/AED Awareness week posts click here.