All New York high schools are required to provide instruction of hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and training in the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to students as part of the health education curriculum.
What does this mean for schools?
Students must be provided with the hands-only CPR and AED training before they graduate from a NYS high school.
Students only need to be provided this instruction once during their high school career
Teachers administering the training are not required to be certified in CPR or operation of AE
Schools can choose to provide comprehensive CPR instruction provided by a certified instructor.
What must be included in the instruction?
Instruction should be based on a nationally recognized program that uses the most current hands-only CPR guidelines issued by the American Heart Association (or equivalent organization); specifically:
Students will be taught to recognize the signs of possible cardiac arrest and call 911.
Instructors must provide students with hands-on opportunities to demonstrate the skills needed and compressions necessary to perform hands-only CPR.
Instructors must provide students with awareness about the use of an AED, including showing what an AED looks like and where it is located, as well as demonstrating the AED.
What is hands-only CPR and why is conventional CPR not required?
Hands-only CPR involves only chest compressions; no rescue breaths (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) are necessary. According to the American Heart Association, CPR can more than double a person’s chances of survival, and studies show that people receiving hands-only CPR are as likely to survive as those receiving conventional CPR with rescue breaths.
What is an automated external defibrillator (AED)?
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm.
What is the cost to our school?
Schools may choose to purchase CPR training kits that provide a comprehensive, turnkey instructional program for hands-only CPR practice. Although, to meet the state requirement, schools may also choose from a variety of low-cost and no-cost options including: borrowing necessary equipment, using free online training tools, partnering with local EMS or, as a last resort, students can simulate delivering compressions on basketballs or playground balls.