Sudden Cardiac Arrest Coalition
2012-2013 Legislative and Regulatory Goals
Tier I Priority:
- AED labeling
Seeking to encourage removal of language from AED cabinets that advise AEDs may only be used by trained personnel. FDA does not require this language.
- REPORT LANUAGE PRIORITIES
- SCA Surveillance/Registry
Working with Congressman Jim Gerlach, NHLBI, NIH, and other organizations to include additional items within current surveillance systems including genetic testing.
- Hypothermia
Pursuing a directive to the NIH to fund hypothermia therapy research consistent with report language in Senate FY 11 Appropriations bill.
- RURAL AND COMMUNITY ACCESS TO EMERGENCY DEVICES
The federal funded Rural and Community Access to Emergency Devices Program is designed to save lives of people who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest. This competitively awarded program provides funding to states to buy AEDs for locations where sudden cardiac arrests are likely to occur and trains lay rescuers and first responders in how to use them. SCAC seeks to continue the program and appropriations.
Tier II Priority:
- SPONSOR H.R. 3189, TEACHING CHILDREN TO SAVE LIVES ACT – Lois Capps (CA)
Legislation that will provide grants to schools to train students on the importance of CPR/AEDS and specifically how to use both. The Coalition will continue to work with the Capps office on building support for the bill.
- JOSH MILLER HEARTS ACT – Rep. Betty Sutton and Sen.Brown
Providing funding for the purchase of AEDs: Local education agencies may apply for the purchase of AEDs for any public or private school in their jurisdiction. Priority is given to schools without access to an AED, schools with a large student and staff population, and schools without timely access to emergency care. The bill ensures CPR and AED Training: The bill requires that at least 5 adults in each school should be trained and certified in CPR and the use of an AED. Encourages schools to create medical emergency response plans and integrate the use of an AED into such plans. The bill also requires schools to notify local emergency services personnel of the placement of the AED in their school.
- HEARTS Act of 2011 (H.R. 36251) - Frank Pallone (NJ)
Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, Risk Assessment, and Training in the Schools (HEARTS) Act of 2O11. The bill raises awareness of cardiomyopathy, and provides schools with the necessary tools for education, training and preparedness to protect at-risk children from sudden cardiac death.
- GOOD SAMIARITAN - Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2011 – Pete Olson (TX)
Establishing a nationally uniform baseline of protection from civil liability for persons who use automated external defibrillators (in this section referred to as ‘‘AEDs’’) in perceived medical emergencies, who own or hold other property interests in AEDs used in perceived medical emergencies, or who own, occupy, or manage premises in which an AED is used or from which an AED is taken for use in a perceived medical emergency will encourage the deployment of additional AEDs, which will ultimately save lives that would otherwise have been lost to cardiac arrest.
