Legislation providing for CPR training in schools approved by Senate

The state Senate has approved legislation to ensure that students in Oklahoma high schools receive instruction in life-saving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) prior to graduation. Under House Bill 1378, authored by Rep. Emily Virgin and Sen. John Sparks, students will receive hands-on training to learn skills that can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival after sudden cardiac arrest.

“There are many people alive today because someone trained in CPR assisted them in their moment of need,” said Sparks, D-Norman. “This bill will ensure students have the skills needed to respond appropriately before the arrival of an Emergency Medical Technician. Preparing students to save lives is a pursuit we can all take pride in.”

According to the American Heart Association, only 10.4 percent of the nearly 424,000 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital each year survive. The organization notes that if CPR or defibrillation are administered within 3 to 5 minutes, survival chances are greatly increased.

HB 1378 was approved by a vote of 33-8, and will return to the House of Representatives for consideration of Senate amendments.