Dozens of Texas advocates rally support at the Capitol for Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in schools during Heart Month

Support needed for policy to help students, faculty and staff save lives in Texas Public Schools

, /PRNewswire/ -- The American Heart Association calls on Texas State Legislators to help pass policies requiring a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) in all Texas public schools. On Thursday, February 20, 2025, at a rally in Austin at the Texas State Capitol, almost 100 survivors, advocates, volunteers, and staff met with dozens of legislators to prioritize this policy to ensure schools can implement these proven lifesaving plans. Establishing CERPs in all schools and sports facilities aligns with the Association's Nation of Lifesavers™ movement to double the survival rate from cardiac arrest by 2030.

More than 356,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital in the United States each year. Without the proper response from people nearby, 90% of these incidents of cardiac arrest will result in death. About 23,000 children under 18 experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, and schools are often a gathering place for community events. Parents and community members are often at schools for plays, concerts, and athletic events, so schools having a regularly reviewed and practiced plan can have a tremendous impact.

Texas is one of many states that require CPR as a graduation requirement, ensuring that every year, more people are ready to act when a cardiac arrest occurs in our communities. However, some of these same states lack laws requiring schools to have a plan in place if an incident of cardiac arrest were to occur on their campus – whether at an athletic event or a school facility.

Students are at Risk

Of the 23,000 children who will experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital, about 40% of these events are sports-related. Whether in the classroom or on the playing field, having a plan in place to enable faculty, staff, and students to quickly and correctly respond to a cardiac emergency can save lives. CPR, if performed immediately, can double or triple a person's chance of survival. In schools with AEDs, approximately 70% of children survive cardiac arrest – seven times the overall survival rate for children.

Many districts may not realize that CERPs can be stand-alone guidelines or integrated with a school's existing medical emergency response plans. In 2024, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District became the largest district in Texas so far to work with the American Heart Association to adopt a district-wide Cardiac Emergency Response Plan for its 22,000 students in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

"Having plans in place to quickly activate during a cardiac event saves lives. When we have practiced CPR, know to call 911, and know where the nearest AED is located, more people will survive a cardiac arrest," said Alec Puente, State Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association's advocacy team in Texas.

Need Action Now

The American Heart Association asks teachers, students, coaches, parents, and the medical community to contact their Legislators, Commissioners, and School Board members to let them know this policy is a top priority for families and communities, and to make sure our schools can implement these proven lifesaving plans. Learn more and get involved at yourethecure.org/nationoflifesavers or text LIFESAVERS to 46839.

The original release can be found here - https://newsroom.heart.org/local-news/dozens-of-texas-advocates-rally-support-at-the-capitol-for-cardiac-emergency-response-plans-in-schools-during-heart-month

About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public's health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.     

For Media Inquiries:
Name: Lindsey Lyons Jones 
Email: [email protected]  
Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org 

SOURCE American Heart Association