131ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Assemblymember Susan John passes
measure to improve school health and safety

To protect the health of students, faculty and community members at school functions, Assemblymember Susan John (D-Rochester, Chili, Wheatland) announced that the state legislature recently passed legislation (A.8779/S.6122) to help place life-saving defibrillators in schools.

As many in our community will remember, in August 1999, Torrance A. Wright, Jr., a 17-year old football player from Franklin High School, collapsed during a scrimmage and was pronounced dead hours later at Strong Hospital. It was later determined that his death was caused by a rare hereditary heart condition.

"Sadly, Torrance might still be with us today if a defibrillator was readily available at the high school. In most cases, an electric shock is needed to restore the heart's normal rhythm after cardiac arrest," said John. "Cardiac arrest patients have a much better chance of survival if they're treated quickly with a defibrillator. This legislation, of which I am a sponsor, makes this proven technology more widely available, and is well worth the cost because it can dramatically increase a child's chance of survival."

According to the National Center for Early Defibrillation, approximately 225,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest in the United States each year. Survival rates range from 1 to 5 percent in most communities, but those odds could increase to as much as 30 to 50 percent if cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillators were used within five minutes of an attack.

Assemblymember John's legislation would require public school facilities that accommodate 1,000 or more people to maintain a cardiac automated external defibrillator (AED) on the premises and have at least one staff person trained to use the devise present for school-spon-sored or school-approved functions. This legislation has passed the Assembly and the Senate, and is expected to be signed into law by the Governor.