H 247

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1H.247
2 Introduced by Representatives Micklus of Milton, Bosch of Clarendon, Boutin
3of Barre City, Carris-Duncan of Whitingham, Dickinson of St.
4Albans Town, Hango of Berkshire, Morgan, L. of Milton,
5Morgan, M. of Milton, Nielsen of Brandon, Steady of Milton,
6and Taylor of Milton
7 Referred to Committee on
8 Date:
9 Subject: Education; health and safety; cardiac emergency response plan
10 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require school
11 districts and independent schools to develop cardiac emergency response
12 plans.
13    An act relating to cardiac emergency response plans in schools
14 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
15 Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 1433 is added to read:
16 § 1433. ACUTE CARDIAC EVENTS IN SCHOOLS
17    (a) Definitions. As used in this section:
18(1) “Automated external defibrillator (AED)” has the same meaning as
19 in 18 V.S.A. § 907(a)(1).
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1(2) “Cardiac emergency response plan” means a written document that
2 establishes the specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any setting,
3 including a school, community organization, workplace, or sports facility.
4(3) “Sudden cardiac arrest” means the sudden loss of all heart activity
5 due to an irregular heart rhythm, which if not treated within minutes can
6 quickly lead to death.
7    (b) Establishment of a cardiac emergency response plan.
8(1) Each school district and independent school shall develop a cardiac
9 emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school
10 personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden
11 cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds.
12(2) Each school district and approved independent school with an
13 athletic department or organized athletic program shall develop a cardiac
14 emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school
15 personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden
16 cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while attending or
17 participating in an athletic practice or event while on school grounds.
18(3) School officials shall work directly with local emergency service
19 providers to integrate the cardiac emergency response plan into the
20 community’s emergency medical service responder protocols. Each plan shall
21 integrate evidence-based core elements, such as those recommended by the
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1 American Heart Association guidelines or another nationally recognized,
2 evidence-based standard.
3    (c) Plan requirements. The cardiac emergency response plan shall include,
4 at a minimum, policies on:
5(1) establishment of a cardiac emergency response team;
6(2) guidelines for when a team is activated in response to a sudden
7 cardiac event;
8(3) implementation of AED placement and routine maintenance within
9 the school;
10(4) dissemination of the plan throughout the school campus;
11(5) maintaining ongoing staff training in CPR and AED use;
12(6) practice drills;
13(7) integrating local EMS with the plan; and
14(8) ongoing and annual review and evaluation of the plan.
15    (d) AED placement. Appropriate AED placement shall be dictated by the
16 cardiac emergency response plan and in accordance with guidelines set by the
17 American Heart Association.
18    (e) Training. Appropriate school staff shall be trained in first-aid, CPR,
19 and AED use that follow evidence-based guidelines set forth by the American
20 Heart Association. Staff trained shall be determined by the cardiac emergency
21 response plan, including licensed coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers.
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1 Sec. 2. IMPLEMENTATION
2   School districts and independent schools shall have a cardiac emergency
3 response plan developed and ready for implementation beginning in the 2025–
4 2026 school year.
5 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
6   This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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