back to press releases

Legislation providing for CPR training in schools approved by Senate

Sen. John Sparks Sen. John Sparks

The state Senate has approved legislation to ensure that students in Oklahoma high schools receive instruction in life-saving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) prior to graduation. Under House Bill 1378, authored by Rep. Emily Virgin and Sen. John Sparks, students will receive hands-on training to learn skills that can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival after sudden cardiac arrest.

“There are many people alive today because someone trained in CPR assisted them in their moment of need,” said Sparks, D-Norman. “This bill will ensure students have the skills needed to respond appropriately before the arrival of an Emergency Medical Technician. Preparing students to save lives is a pursuit we can all take pride in.”

According to the American Heart Association, only 10.4 percent of the nearly 424,000 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital each year survive. The organization notes that if CPR or defibrillation are administered within 3 to 5 minutes, survival chances are greatly increased.

HB 1378 was approved by a vote of 33-8, and will return to the House of Representatives for consideration of Senate amendments.

Contact info
Sen. Sparks: (405) 521-5553