Hochul signs legislation to keep kids safe from cardiac emergencies

S.7424/A.366A requires camps & youth sports programs to establish AED implementation plan

√ Legislation supported by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin aims to save lives, protect youth

Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation S.7424/A.366A requiring camps and youth sports programs to establish automated external defibrillator implementation plans and to have at least one person trained to properly use the AED at camps, games and practice.

"We all remember the terrifying moment when Damar Hamlin was injured last February, but young athletes at schools and camps could be exposed to similar risks," Hochul said. "By requiring camps and youth sports programs to establish an AED implementation plan, kids will be safer and teams will be prepared. I want every parent in New York to know we're doing everything we can to keep your kids safe."

Buffalo Bills safety Hamlin said, “Growing up, in all the years that I played football, I don’t remember thinking about where an AED was located or who was trained to use one. I think that many people have had the same experience. My journey has shown us that no one expects cardiac arrest to happen – and we all need to be prepared. By requiring that at least one person is trained to properly use an AED at every sports event, camp and practice, this new law will help protect tens of thousands of kids in New York state – and is a really important step in saving lives.”

Hochul’s team said legislation S.7424/A.366A, pursuant to changes agreed to with the Legislature, will require camps and youth sports programs with five or more teams participating to establish an AED implementation plan. Such plans will detail how AEDs will be made available or reasonably accessible at every camp, game or practice. The AED implementation plans will also detail how the camps and programs will ensure that, when practicable, at least one employee, volunteer, coach, umpire or other qualified adult who has successfully completed a training course in the operation of an AED is present.

State Sen. Shelley B. Mayer said, “More than 7,000 children experience cardiac emergencies each year, and too often an AED is not available. This legislation will make these programs safer and provide parents and young athletes with peace of mind.”

Assembly member Steven Otis said, "Sudden cardiac arrest has a 90% fatality rate, but those outcomes can be improved when CPR and AED response occurs within three minutes of an episode. It is estimated that between 7,000 and 14,000 youth sudden cardiac arrests occur nationwide each year. This legislation will save lives by having youth sports groups and camps include AED coverage as part of their first aid plans.”

WMCHealth Network President and CEO Michael D. Israel said, “We know that, when sudden cardiac events strike, the odds for survival are greatly improved when CPR is deployed and automated external defibrillators are nearby. As the founders of Project ADAM in New York where we work with area schools and sports teams on sudden cardiac arrest preparedness, we are delighted to partner on this bill with Gov. Kathy Hochul, Sen. Shelley Mayer, Assemblyman Steve Otis, the American Heart Association and Damar Hamlin to make AEDs more widely available as well as equip, train and prepare others to join our cause of saving lives. The progress we’re making to raise awareness about sudden cardiac events in children is a testament to Alice Schoen and Dana Colasante, who co-founded Project ADAM here at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital.”

Project ADAM New York at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital Co-founders Dana Colasante and Alice Schoen said, “After five years of advocating for awareness on the signs and risks of sudden cardiac arrest in children and how schools and youth sports leagues can prepare with accessible automated external defibrillators and CPR/AED training, we are thrilled that Gov. Hochul signed Bill S7424 into law that will improve the cardiac chain of survival. There have been too many children on athletic fields and courts, at camps and at schools, who died and whose lives might have been saved had an AED been readily available. We are so grateful to Assemblyman Steve Otis and to Sen. Shelley Mayer for championing this life-saving legislation.”

American Heart Association Westchester Board President Dr. Patrick Thomas said, “The American Heart Association goal is to turn bystanders into lifesavers so that, in time of cardiac emergency, anyone, anywhere, is prepared and empowered to become a vital link in the chain of survival. We applaud the advocacy of Project ADAM NY in taking a step towards ensuring more access to AEDs at camps and youth sports program and we look forward to working with Gov. Hochul and the Legislature to continue to work to pass policies that will increase survival from sudden cardiac arrest.”