Lawmakers in Michigan hope the odds of surviving a cardiac arrest improve in the state, where high schoolers will soon be required to take CPR training before graduating.
“We’re hoping this will help increase survival rates across all Michigan communities and beyond,” said pediatric cardiologist Monica Martin Goble, M.D., an associate professor at the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, and an American Heart Association volunteer. “As four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home, this has the potential to increase survival rates across our communities.”
The>new law was signed Dec. 28 by Gov. Rick Snyder. It outlines that Michigan high schoolers will learn CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator before graduation beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. The result will be roughly 100,000 more CPR-trained Michiganians every year.
High school seniors Tyler Menhart and best friend Noah Weeda testified in support of the bill.
Weeda collapsed during soccer drills in April 2015 at Northview High School in Grand Rapids. Menhart called 911 and used the CPR skills he’d learned as a Boy Scout. Read more…