Governor DeWine Signs Bill Requiring AEDs in Ohio Schools

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 47 during a ceremony this week at Worthington Kilbourne High School.

The new law will require automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, to be placed in every public and chartered nonpublic school in Ohio.

According to the CDC, more than 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in the United States.

An estimated 70-90% of these people die before reaching the hospital.

However, the American Heart Association reports that nine out of 10 cardiac arrest victims will live if they receive a shock from an AED in the first minute after an incident.

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will develop a system for violations to be reported if schools do not properly place AEDs in their facilities or fail to adopt and practice an emergency action plan.

The bill also requires schools to train teachers, administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, and anyone else supervising student-athletes on how and when to use AEDs.

Finally, the bill requires schools and youth sports organizations to hold informational meetings each sports season regarding the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest for young athletes of all ages.