BATON ROUGE, La. (KTVE/KARD) – A bill that would require all Louisiana schools to have defibrillators on campus has passed out of committee to be reviewed.
Senate Bill 12 would require schools from kindergarten through college to have the presence of a defibrillator on-site that will most likely increase a sufferer’s chance of survival.
The bill aims to stop sudden cardiac-related deaths among students.
“Just like you prepare for a fire drill, you will be preparing for if a kid or a parent or a teacher passes out for some cardio reasons, we know how to deal with it, and everybody should know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it,” said State Senator Cleo Fields.
Fields’ new bill will require all educational institutions to have an AED and someone trained to use it. He says he will team up with health officials to implement rules and regulations that will ensure the devices are in operative condition as well as have an easily accessible location within the athletic department.
“It also amended the bill to provide for an action plan. Every school must have an action plan. If something like this happens.”
Highlighting the importance of having defibrillators in the classroom — just this week– a local community is mourning the loss of a Jena High School student.
The Jena Times confirmed the student died after going into cardiac arrest on Tuesday, April 18.
According to the Jena Chief of Police Scott Mclendon, the incident occurred around 11 a.m. inside a classroom of the school. The case remains under investigation.
If the bill passes, it is expected to become law in January 2024.
An account has been established at CLB – The Community Bank, Jena Branch, for anyone wishing to donate to help cover funeral expenses.
Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.
