2016 -- S 2494 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Paiva Weed, Algiere, Goodwin, and Coyne

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-21-33.1. Automatic external defibrillators. – (a) Legislative findings:

     (1) Approximately three hundred twenty-five thousand (325,000) Americans suffer

sudden cardiac arrest ("SCA") each year and more than ninety-five percent (95%) of them die

before reaching the hospital;

     (2) In the population of Rhode Island, an estimated one thousand (1,000) residents will

die of cardiac arrest every year;

     (3) No official statistics have been gathered about SCA in children, however experts

estimate about three hundred (300) deaths because of SCA every year for people under the age of

twenty-one (21) or about one tenth of one percent (.001%);

     (4) This means that at least one person under the age of twenty-one (21) years, most

likely a student, will die due to athletics related SCA every year in Rhode Island;

     (5) If defibrillation is performed within five (5) to seven (7) minutes, chances of survival

are increased by forty-nine percent (49%). Every minute that goes by without defibrillation

reduces the chance of survival by seven percent (7%) to ten percent (10%);

     (6) Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are extremely accurate computerized

devices that can be operated by the average person;

     (7) AEDs are inexpensive and grants for AEDs are mostly given to nonprofit

organizations, such as schools; and

     (8) AEDs can be acquired through grants from various organizations or through

government agencies.

     (b) All high schools and middle schools, whether they are public or privately run, shall

provide and maintain on-site functional automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in quantities

and types deemed by the commissioner of education in consultation with the director of health to

be adequate to ensure ready and appropriate access for use during emergencies. Whenever school

facilities are used for school sponsored or school approved curricular or extracurricular activities,

and whenever a school-sponsored athletic contest is held at any location, the school officials and

administrators responsible for such school facility or athletic contest shall ensure the presence of

at least one person who is properly trained in the operation and use of an AED. Such training may

be conducted by qualified personnel, including, but not limited to, municipal fire and police

department employees.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on August 1, 2017.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

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     This act would require all high and middle schools to have functional automated external

defibrillators (AEDs), in an amount to be determined by the commissioner of education, on site

for daily use, for school sponsored activities and athletic events, for use in emergencies. These

AEDs would be accessible to staff. Someone trained in the use of the AED would be present at

each event.

     This act would take effect on August 1, 2017.

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