Bill Text: WV SB602 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled

West Virginia Senate Bill 602

Bill Title: Cardiac Emergency Response Plan Act

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-04-23 - Chapter 106, Acts, Regular Session, 2024 [SB602 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2024-SB602-Enrolled.html

WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Enrolled

Senate Bill 602

By Senator Grady

[Passed March 1, 2024; in effect 90 days from passage]

AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §18-2L-1, §18-2L-2, §18-2L-3, and §18-2L-4, all relating to cardiac emergency response plans; defining terms; establishing requirements for cardiac emergency response plan; and addressing funding.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 2L. THE CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN.

§18-2L-1. Title of article.

This article shall be known as the Cardiac Emergency Response Plan Act.

§18-2L-2. Definitions.

Definitions. — As used in this section:

"Cardiac emergency response plan" means a written document that establishes the specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any setting, be it a school, community organization, workplace, or sports facility.

"Automated external defibrillator" or "AED" means a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest.

"Sudden cardiac arrest" means a heart malfunction that occurs when the heart stops beating unexpectedly. If not treated within minutes, it quickly leads to death.

§18-2L-3. Establishing a cardiac care emergency response plan.

(a) Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each county board of education shall develop a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or similar life-threatening emergency while on school grounds.

(b) Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each county board of education with an athletic program shall develop a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while attending or participating in an athletic practice or event while on school grounds. The plan developed pursuant to this subsection shall consider the requirements of §16-57-1 et seq. of this code and §18-2-25b of this code and not duplicate existing efforts to reduce the risks associated with sudden cardiac arrest associated with sports activity set forth in these provisions.

(c) Each county board of education shall designate an appropriate individual to work directly with local emergency service providers to integrate the cardiac emergency response plan into the community’s emergency medical service responder protocols. Each plan shall integrate evidence-based core elements, such as those recommended by the American Heart Association guidelines, or another nationally recognized, evidence-based standard/core elements into their cardiac emergency response plan.

(d) Each cardiac emergency response plan shall integrate, at a minimum, the following guidelines:

(1) Establishing a cardiac emergency response team;

(2) Activating the team in response to a sudden cardiac arrest;

(3) Implementing AED placement and routine maintenance within the school;

(4) Disseminating the plan throughout the school campus;

(5) Maintaining ongoing staff training in cardiac pulmonary resuscitation and AED use;

(6) Practicing use drills;

(7) Integrating local emergency medical response with the plan; and

(8) Ongoing and annual review and evaluation of the plan.

(e) Appropriate placement shall be dictated by the cardiac emergency response plan and in accordance with guidelines set by the American Heart Association.

(f) Appropriate school staff shall be trained in first-aid, cardiac pulmonary resuscitation, and AED use that follow evidence-based guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association. Staff trained shall be determined by the cardiac emergency response plan, including, but not limited to, coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers.