Drive to require high school portable defibrillator training

The Chicago Tribune recently published an article highlighting a growing movement to make high school students learn how to use portable defibrillators. George Laman, a father from the suburbs, has been advocating for this change after his daughter, Lauren, died in 2008 while practicing with her high school drill team. She collapsed in the cafeteria and, despite the presence of a nearby defibrillator, it wasn’t used in time. Eric Bell, another parent, credits CPR training for saving his life when he suffered a heart attack. His son, Harry, performed life-saving CPR until paramedics arrived. Inspired by these personal stories, Laman and Bell have joined forces to push for state legislation that would require all high school students to be trained in CPR and AED use. The bill, which is similar to laws already in place in eight states, has gained strong support in the Illinois House and is now moving toward Senate approval. However, there are concerns about funding. While the bill’s main sponsor, Rep. Dan Burke, suggests that local fire departments could offer free training—like the Red Cross and American Heart Association do—school board representatives argue that this would add yet another unfunded mandate to already strained budgets. The American Heart Association supports the initiative, emphasizing that immediate CPR or AED use can significantly increase survival rates. According to Alex Meixner, the association’s Illinois representative, every minute without help reduces a victim’s chance of survival by 10 percent. That means paramedics have less than 10 minutes to arrive. Lauren Laman’s case was particularly tragic. Diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, she had been cleared by her doctor to participate in athletics. School officials were aware of her condition, but the tragedy still occurred. For the Bell family, CPR isn’t just a skill—it’s a lifeline. Harry learned it in his freshman health class, while his mother only picked it up by watching a restaurant staff perform it a week before her husband’s heart attack. Now, as more schools are equipped with easy-to-use defibrillators, Laman believes education is the next critical step. He hopes that by teaching students how to respond in emergencies, lives can be saved in the future. Thanks, Dan.

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