Over 295,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year and only 8% of them survive. This remarkable statistic highlights the need for Good Samaritans to respond in an emergency when trained professionals are not immediately available.  What you may not know is that Pennsylvania's bystanders currently are not fully protected under the Good Samaritan Law.

Unfortunately in Pennsylvania, this needed response is stymied because of an outdated Good Samaritan law that fails to protect from personal liability bystanders and off-duty professional first responders. Currently, bystanders - including off-duty first responders - who perform CPR or aid someone in an emergency and businesses who wish to place automatic external defibrillators (AED) on their premises are at risk of being sued.

Pennsylvania citizens, businesses and off-duty first responders shouldn’t have to think twice about personal liability when they are trying to do the right thing in an emergency, especially when a stranger’s hands and the presence of an AED often means the difference between life and death. Help protect our Good Samaritans.

Send your message now in support of Senate Bill 351.

Urge Your Lawmakers to Support SB 351 to Protect PA's Good Samaritans!
For Every Minute CPR is Delayed, Survival Rates Drop 7%-10%


Did you know that bystanders who aid someone in an emergency using CPR, and businesses that want to place an AED on their premises, are not granted liability protections under PA's Good Samaritan Law?

June 1-7, 2011 has been designated as National CPR and AED Awareness Week to celebrate advancements that have been made and to educate the public about the important role they play in saving lives. Unfortunately, there is still work to be done in Pennsylvania.

The good news is that a bill has been introduced that would remove barriers, making it safe for Pennsylvanians to render aid without fear of liability and your message can help make that a reality!

AEDs are made to be used by the general public and their technology and capabilities have advanced considerably since the law was first enacted. They provide specific voice instructions to the user and will only deliver a shock if an irregular heart rhythm is confirmed. In fact, PA's 911 protocols now require all 911 emergency operators to be trained in CPR/AED instruction so that when bystanders call 911 for assistance, the operator instructs the bystander on how to properly administer CPR and use an AED. Ironically, current law does not protect the bystander from liability in rendering assistance.

Please send PA's lawmakers a message now urging their support of SB 351!

Thank you for helping update PA's Good Sam law!

June 1-7, 2011 has been designated as National CPR and AED Awareness Week to celebrate advancements that have been made and to educate the public about the important role they play in saving lives. Unfortunately, there is still work to be done. Surprisingly, as PA's law is currently written, bystanders who aid someone in an emergency using CPR, and businesses who want to place an AED on their premises, are not granted liability protections when acting in good faith under the Good Samaritan Law.

The good news is that a bill has been introduced that would remove these barriers, making it safe for Pennsylvanians to render aid without fear of liability and your message can help make that a reality!

AEDs are made to be used by the general public and their technology and capabilities have advanced considerably since the law was first enacted. They provide specific voice instructions to the user and will only deliver a shock if an irregular heart rhythm is confirmed. In fact, PA's 911 protocols now require all 911 emergency operators to be trained in CPR/AED instruction so that when bystanders call 911 for assistance, the operator instructs the bystander on how to properly administer CPR and use an AED. Ironically, current law does not protect the bystander from liability in rendering assistance.

Please send PA's lawmakers a message now urging their support of SB 351!

Thank you for helping update PA's Good Sam law!

Next week is National EMS Week and in Ohio it's being kicked off this Sunday with EMS & Safety Day at COSI in Columbus! We are excited to partner up for this event and represent the AHA there. We would love to see YOU there on Sunday!

Click here for a coupon for $2 admission to COSI!

Even if you can't make it this Sunday, this coupon is good for all of National EMS Week, May 15-22!


EMS & Safety Day

May 15, 2011 - May 15, 2011
1pm - 4pm
In celebration of National Safety Week, join us for EMS & Safety Day at COSI! Meet fire fighters from the Columbus Division of Fire and other emergency personnel, get an up close look at a fire truck, and even see a Medflight helicopter land and take-off on COSI's lawn! Hands-on activities and demonstrations will help you learn about bike and car safety through the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Columbus Neighborhood Pride Program, poison prevention by the Central Ohio Poison Center, and practice CPR and learn about heart health with the American Heart Association, and more. Also meet the Blue Jackets mascot Stinger from 2-3pm. All outdoor activities and demonstrations are weather permitting.

Read more: http://cosi.org/visitors/calendar/?m=05&d=15&y=2011#ixzz1MG55nMQC

Each year, approximately 295,000 EMS-treated sudden cardiac arrests (SCA) occur outside of a hospital and unfortunately, only 8% of those victims survive. However, CPR combined with early defibrillation with an AED more than doubles a victim’s chance of survival. Good Samaritan laws have been created to protect from liability for injury and damages any person who assists someone in need during a medical emergency.

Te good news is that a large majority of states (36 states) provide Good Samaritan protection to a person who renders care in good faith at the scene of an emergency. The bad news is that Pennsylvania’s Good Samaritan laws do not.

Improving PA's Good Samaritan Law Will Cost Nothing--And Save Lives!

Senator Lisa Baker is currently circulating a co-sponsorship memo for Senate Bill 351, which would provide further civil immunity protections to individuals and other entities acting in good faith to assist during times of an emergency. This legislation will not cost the Commonwealth one penny to implement, but the lives it will save are priceless!

Please take a moment to send a message now urging your state senator to co-sponsor this vital legislation. ***Please note: Our system has been updated and may prompt you to login the first time with your last name and email address in the top right corner of the screen.

Passage of this bill could save the life of someone you love. Please act now!

Although the 2009-2010 legislative session did not include final legislative or regulatory victories for the American Heart Association, it’s important to reflect on the significant accomplishments that were made to advance so many of, and raise more awareness about, our policy issues: HB 816, which would have expanded the Department of Health’s Heart Disease and Stroke Program, was supported by the entire House but was held up in Senate Committee; HB 1572, which would have established nutritional standards for beverages and snack foods, was supported by the entire House but was held up in Senate Committee; influenced the State Board of Education’s decision to adopt some of the strongest nutrition and physical education standards in the nation, but was ultimately stalled by Pennsylvania’s very complicated regulatory process; we generated significant support in both the House and Senate for a bill that would ensure every school building was equipped with an AED and appropriate emergency medical response plans were in place, but was held up in the Senate; while there were minor cuts in tobacco prevention and cessation funding, we were successful in protecting the funding from being eliminated altogether; and we helped drive a statewide campaign to educate legislators on the importance of creating tax parity among tobacco products.

Pennsylvania advocates should be incredibly proud of the work they did to help bring attention to these important policies and help advance them through the legislative process!

Looking forward to the new 2011-2012 legislative session, the American Heart Association anticipates a full and busy public policy agenda. Anticipated agenda items will include: expanding AED/CPR Good Samaritan protections to ensure AED program facilitators and CPR bystanders are protected from lawsuits when they come to the aid of a victim in SCA; building support for ensuring that all high school students receive CPR training before graduation; establishing strong nutrition standards for beverages and snack foods sold in schools; creating tax parity among tobacco products; preserving Tobacco Prevention and Cessation funding; and continuing to build support to expand Pennsylvania’s Heart Disease and Stroke Program.

We look forward to continuing to work with you on these issues!  Stay tuned!

After all the information shared throughout this week, you may be left wondering - so how do I get trained?!?! Here's your answer! The American Heart Association offers a variety of classes depending on your needs.


Our trainings are provided through our Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) department - click here to visit the ECC Class Connector today and find a class near you! Or you can call 1-877-AHA-4CPR

Already trained? Visit the CPR Week website and register so your CPR action counts toward our goal!

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

It's National CPR/AED Awareness Week, which means there’s no better time to stop and reflect on the significant impact these lifesaving measures have made in our communities and perhaps in our own lives.

In 1998, Pennsylvania made great strides in advancing AED policy by passing a law (Act 126) that granted any individual who in good faith uses an AED in an emergency, a.k.a. “lay rescuer”, immunity from civil liability. Now over ten years later, Pennsylvania is in a good position to strengthen the AED Good Samaritan law and extend those same protections to businesses and persons who acquire and maintain an AED. Senator Lisa Baker introduced Senate Bill 1322, which would do just that. The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and we look forward to working with our volunteers to advance the bill before the end of this year.

Click here to send a message to your Pennsylvania state legislators today in support of Senate Bill 1322!

Also of note, last month, the House Education Committee heard testimony on a related bill, House Bill 1803, which would require the placement of an AED in every school entity, nonpublic and private school in each occupied building on its premises. The bill also outlines training requirements for the appropriate use of AEDs, provisions to accept donations for CPR and AED programs and establishes a pilot cardiovascular screening program for 6th graders from selected schools. The bill remains in the House Education Committee and the American Heart Association will continue to offer support to help advance the bill.

The video below tells the story of Ricky Davis, a Philadelphia man who was saved by the timely application of CPR and proper use of a publicly-available AED.


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

Ohio first looked at AED policy back in 1998, with passage of our Good Samaritan bill. It grants immunity to any layperson who attempts to save the life of another with the use of an AED. Now, the state is poised to add to this language with House Bill 226, sponsored by Representatives Heard and Letson. The goal is to expand this coverage to program faciliatators and premise owners to further encourage the placement of AEDs.

In addition, Ohio has placed many AEDs in schools through a $5 million grant program. While schools may need more than one AED for best coverage, the grant program provided assistance to start a program.

Now, Ohio will see introduction of legislation to further encourage students to learn first aid and CPR. A House Bill, championed by Representative Grossman, is expected to be introduced any day.

Send a message to your legislators today about the importance of CPR and AEDs in saving lives - it's easy, just click here!

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

Delaware can be proud to be maybe the only state with an AED placed in every public school as well as AEDs in every private and parochial school of a reasonably minimal size. The State Office of Emergency Medical Services has managed a strong funding stream over the past several years supporting the deployment of these devices across the state.

Advocate Stew Krug, founder of the Matthew Krug Foundation (named for his son who died of a sudden cardiac arrest in 2001) has been instrumental in this effort and works tirelessly to raise awareness and skills related to AEDs and performing CPR. The American Heart Association is working with Stew, Rep. Mike Ramone, and others to incorporate CPR and AED awareness, skills, and training into model units of the health curriculum of Delaware’s schools.

We are excited about the progress we’ve made and the lives we’ve saved so far, and will continue to save in the future.

Educate your Delaware lawmakers on the importance of CPR/AED awareness today - click here!

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

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.

The placement of automated external defibrillators can help save lives in your community. Want to learn more? Here are a few basics:

What is an AED?
The automated external defibrillator (AED) is a computerized medical device. An AED can check a person’s heart rhythm. It can recognize a rhythm that requires a shock. And it can advise the rescuer when a shock is needed. The AED uses voice prompts, lights and text messages to tell the rescuer the steps to take.

AEDs are very accurate and easy to use. With a few hours of training, anyone can learn to operate an AED safely. There are many different brands of AEDs, but the same basic steps apply to all of them. The AHA does not recommend a specific model.

What's the AHA position on placement of AEDs?
The AHA strongly advocates that all EMS first-response vehicles and ambulances be equipped with an AED or another defibrillation device (semiautomatic or manual defibrillator). The AHA also supports placing AEDs in targeted public areas such as sports arenas, gated communities, office complexes, doctor's offices, shopping malls, etc. When AEDs are placed in the community or a business or facility, the AHA strongly encourages that they be part of a defibrillation program in which:

• Persons that acquire an AED notify the local EMS office.
• A licensed physician or medical authority provides medical oversight to ensure quality control.
• Persons responsible for using the AED are trained in CPR and how to use an AED.

Why should people who are responsible for operating an AED receive CPR training?
Early CPR is an integral part of providing lifesaving aid to people suffering sudden cardiac arrest. CPR helps to circulate oxygen-rich blood to the brain. After the AED is attached and delivers a shock, the typical AED will prompt the operator to continue CPR while the device continues to analyze the victim.

How can I enroll in a CPR or AED class?
The American Heart Association offers CPR and AED training through its network of Training Centers. To locate a Training Center near you, call 1-877-AHA-4CPR, or use our online class finder.

Additional information can be found on the American Heart Association's website.

Throughout this week, you will often see the term Chain of Survival. This refers to our suggested best-practice response to a cardiovascular event. Our research has provided us the foundation to establish this Chain of Survival and CPR and AEDs play a huge role in this process. A strong Chain of Survival can improve chances of survival and recovery for victims of heart attack, stroke and other emergencies. The steps in the Chain of Survival are as follows:

1. Recognize an emergency
2. Call 9-1-1!
3. Begin Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
4. Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

As you can see, CPR and the use of an AED are two of the major steps of this Chain of Survival. As we raise CPR/AED awareness this week, it is important to recognize that these steps are more than just individual actions, they are steps in a larger chain that, when followed, increase survival rates dramatically.

Here's a video produced by the American Heart Association to show the Chain of Survival in action.

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

The American Heart Association has set an ambitious goal of educating 1 million Americans about CPR this week. This year, in particular, the AHA is looking to expand our reach to an audience that we may not normally reach - teens.

“We are reaching out to teens to create the next generation of lifesavers,” said Michael Sayre, M.D., chairman of the American Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee and Ohio You're the Cure advocate. “Teens can learn how to save lives and play an important role by setting an example for their friends, families and neighbors about the need for CPR and AED training -- and they can encourage the adults in their lives to learn CPR.”

What can you do to help us reach our goal this week? There are lots of options:  

• Playing the “Be the Beat” educational game or watching the Hands-Only CPR video at http://www.cprweek.org/
• Taking a classroom-based course. To find a course, go to http://www.americanheart.org/cpr and click on the ECC Class Connector.
• Training on CPR Anytime, a self-directed, at-home CPR kit. Kits can be ordered at http://www.cpranytime.org/.

Log your training (including past trainings) at http://www.cprweek.org/! Every action is tallied and the map on the CPR week website is regularly updated to reflect the five states with the most CPR actions - is yours in the top five!??! Can we count you in?

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

Would you be able to help save someone--perhaps a loved one--if they collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest right in front of you? Do you know what to do? Could you perform CPR or use an automated external defibrillator (AED) until emergency personnel arrived?

This year marks the 50th anniversary of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We now know that CPR, when provided immediately after a sudden cardiac arrest, can double--or even triple--chances of survival.

It's National CPR/AED Awareness Week---a great time to make a commitment to get trained (or re-trained) and help spread the word about how easy, and important, it is to know how to perform CPR and use an AED!

Share this important information with your lawmakers by taking action today! It's easy, just click the link for your state below - sending a message to your lawmakers only takes a few clicks!

Ohio
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
Delaware

Thank you and Happy CPR/AED Awareness Week!


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

In December 2007, Congress unanimously passed a resolution to create National CPR and AED Awareness Week. Occurring during the first week of June each year, National CPR and AED Awareness Week will increase public training in and awareness of the use of CPR and AEDs.

Next week is National CPR/AED Awareness Week (June 1-7)! We are excited for this opportunity to provide some more education and information around these lifesaving steps in the chain of survival.

While the American Heart Association overall will be focusing on educating one million Americans about CPR (which we will be actively supporting as well!), we will provide a more advocacy-specific perspective throughout the week. Check back for updates including an overview of AHA's policy around AEDs, state updates on current/ongoing CPR/AED policies and much more! For more information on National CPR/AED Awareness Week visit http://www.cprweek.org/.

The best way to keep up with our blog is to subscribe! Just click here to subscribe with your favorite RSS reader or through any email. For instructions on how to follow the RSS feed in Outlook 2007 click here.

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

The mission of the American Heart Association is: Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The American Heart Association / American Stroke Association supports and advocates for public policies that will help reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by 25 percent by 2010. The following are the public policy priorities for Ohio in 2009-2010.

♥ Tobacco Prevention Funding
Over the last few years, tobacco prevention in Ohio has been decimated. First, funding was securitized in 2007. The following year, the tobacco prevention foundation was abolished and their endowment seized. While the state provided $6 million for 2008-09 and 2009-10, there is no provision to provide future dollars. Therefore, tobacco prevention funding is even more critical. Ohio will continue to support an equalization of the other tobacco products tax to provide a steady stream of funds for tobacco prevention.

♥ Stroke Systems of Care
Ohio took the first step towards addressing our stroke system of care several years ago. In 2006, Ohio released the Burden of Stroke in Ohio report, which provided greater insight to the state’s system. The next step for Ohio is legislation to address the identified gaps.

♥ Physical Education
While Ohio does have state standards for physical education, next steps are needed. Efforts are underway to improve the quality and quantity all children receive.

♥ Health Education Standards
Ohio does not have Health Education Standards for Schools. By passing national standards, Ohio can ensure children receive quality nutrition education. When coupled with improvements in physical education, we can address the energy in=energy out equation.

♥ Chain of Survival, Good Samaritan
While Ohio previously passed AED Good Samaritan legislation, there are additional adjustments needed. Ohio will work to enhance the current language to encourage additional AED placement.


This is the beginning of a new series on our legislative work. First, we will share the legislative agendas of each state. In a few months, we will share a legislative update to inform advocates of where we stand on our set agenda. Finally, we will have a wrap-up post at the end of legislative session to share our final results.