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SAA Supports “CPR” Bill
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 7, 2016
At a public hearing before the Senate Education Committee yesterday, the SAA registered its support for Senate Bill 412 relating to providing lifesaving skills instruction to pupils.
This bill, authored by Senator Jerry Petrowski (R- Marathon) and Representative John Spiros (R-Marshfield), requires school boards to provide instruction in cardiopulmonary and cardiocerebral resuscitation in any health education course offered to pupils in grades 7 to 12 and to provide instruction about automated external defibrillators to pupils in grades 7 to 12, beginning in the 2017-18 school year.
Under current law, a school board, operator of an independent charter school, and governing body of a private school is required to offer instruction about cardiopulmonary and cardiocerebral resuscitation and to provide instruction about automated external defibrillators to pupils enrolled in high school grades.
Although the bill itself is an unfunded mandate, SAA staff worked closely with Senator Petrowski and with representatives of the American Heart Association (AHA), one of the bill’s main backers, to remove SAA objections regarding cost and flexibility. The AHA indicates it is prepared to invest $75,000–enough to provide each CESA in the state with 100 kits (mannequins and training DVDs) for use in training students. These kits could then be borrowed by districts that could not access necessary equipment through community sources (Fire, EMS, Police, Hospitals) so they could provide the required instruction.
In addition, the AHA is working on a grant proposal with CESA 7 to provide substantially more funding. If successful, this grant application would fund teacher training and provide those who successfully complete the training with kits they could take back to their districts. The grant may also include funds to cover the cost of hiring substitutes while regular teachers are receiving training. We are also encouraged by the opportunity for schools to partner with local fire/EMS and medical providers such as hospitals in an effort to reduce costs.
It is our understanding that if a school only provides the minimum instruction required by the bill (compression-only), it can be done in as little as 30 minutes and teachers will not be required to obtain any additional license or certification to do the training.
The bill has strong bipartisan support and also has the backing of Fire/EMS Chiefs, Police Chiefs and the medical community.
SAA members are encouraged to contact the SAA with any questions you may have on the SAA’s position on SB 412.
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