Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a bill this week requiring automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to be placed in nearly every school, sports, and recreation venue in the state. The bill was prompted by the sudden cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin during a Monday Night Football game in Cincinnati last year. Hamlin expressed his gratitude to the state Legislature and Governor DeWine for passing the bill, stating that it will make these places safer for young people.
The new law mandates that all public schools, municipally-owned sports and recreation locations, and some private schools have on-site AEDs. Previously, it was up to individual school districts to decide whether to have AEDs on site. The law also requires employees to undergo training on how to use AEDs and recognize the signs of cardiac arrest. Students will receive informational sessions on sudden cardiac arrest before the start of any athletic season.
Additionally, the Ohio Department of Health will develop a model emergency action plan for schools, centers, and sports groups to adopt. The goal of the law is to ensure that schools and sports venues in Ohio are better prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies and help save lives. With this new legislation in place, Ohio is taking proactive steps to protect its young people and athletes from the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest.
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