Dr. Sean Connolly is a pediatric cardiologist at Nemours Children’s Health in Wilmington and a volunteer for the American Heart Association.
The Delaware General Assembly recently passed legislation (House Bill 71 with House Amendment 1), championed by Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris, D-Dover, and Sen. Nicole Poore, D-New Castle, that will strengthen cardiac arrest preparedness at school athletic events and practices. On July 30, Gov. Matt Meyer signed this critical legislation into law. It requires that all coaches are trained in CPR and automated external defibrillator use. It also mandates that athletic programs have emergency action plans and have AEDs accessible at all school athletic events and practices. These changes represent a major step toward ensuring that our youth and their families — including student athletes and spectators — have the best chance of survival in the event of a cardiac emergency.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating, often due to an “electrical” problem with the organ. An estimated 350,000 people in the United States experience sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospitals each year. An alarming 90% of victims who experience it outside of hospitals do not survive. Nearly 23,000 such events occur in children younger than 18, and about 40% of those occur during sports-related events, leaving student athletes particularly vulnerable. And, when these instances occur, survival is not guaranteed.
As a pediatric cardiologist and advocate for cardiac emergency planning in schools and athletic events, I can attest that few things in life happen as quickly and as unexpectedly as cardiac arrests do. The devastation for family, friends and schoolmates is profound and lifelong. When this happens in our communities, especially if the victim is a child, it is a tragedy. Not every cardiac arrest can be prevented, but lives can be saved with appropriate training, planning and equipment.
The requirements in this bill and the work of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association will save lives. By certifying all coaches in CPR and defibrillator use, developing and practicing emergency action plans, and ensuring that AEDs are readily available at all school athletic events and practices, this bill lays the foundation for what we know increases survival from sudden cardiac arrest. In schools with these plans, CPR rates were nearly 94%, AED use was 83%, and survival from sudden cardiac arrest increased to 64% — a nearly sevenfold increase in survival compared with overall out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. These strategies work, and lives will be saved.
As medical professionals, educators, parents and community members, we share a collective responsibility to protect our young people. The passage of HB 71 is not just a legislative decision — it is a commitment to the health and well-being of our children. Please join me in thanking Gov. Meyer for signing this vital bill into law, taking a definitive stand in preventing avoidable tragedies in our athletic competitions. We encourage the governor and General Assembly to look ahead and extend these lifesaving protections to school buildings. Learn more and get involved at heartpowered.org/nationoflifesavers.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
