Kaitlin Forbes was an athletic 15-year-old who went into sudden cardiac arrest while playing softball in gym class. Kaitlin’s teacher and school nurse rushed to her side, performed CPR, and used an automated external defibrillator (AED). Today, Kaitlin is a healthy and happy 18-year-old with her whole life ahead of her!

Kaitlin’s story could have had a different ending but fortunately Kaitlin was in a school setting with staff trained in CPR. Sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of 900 Americans everyday. Many of these lives could be saved if bystanders act promptly, phone 9-1-1, begin CPR and if trained rescuers provide defibrillation within minutes. Legislation (A.3646-a/S.178-a) would train the next generation of responders in New York State by ensuring that training in CPR is offered as a part of the school health curriculum. Depending upon the selected course, CPR training can take as little as a half hour out of the entire school year and costs about the same as a textbook.

Please pass this legislation this session to strengthen the chain of survival and save another life!

Thank you.