CHAPTER 112

H.P. 136 - L.D. 177

Resolve, To Ensure That Emergency Medical Help Is Available

to All School Children

Preamble. Whereas, the Legislature recognizes that the health and safety of students in our schools is a preeminent concern of school officials and educational personnel across the State; and

Whereas, having a medical emergency response plan in place to effectively respond to inevitable medical emergencies resulting from sudden cardiac events is both prudent and necessary for our schools; and

Whereas, the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillators for Maine Schools Workgroup convened by the Department of Education has acknowledged the important progress that many of Maine's school administrative units have made in establishing emergency response teams comprised of school personnel who hold valid certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and whose roles include providing an immediate response to a medical emergency in order to stabilize the medical emergency until emergency medical services arrives at the scene of the emergency; and

Whereas, a survey of state school nurse consultants regarding their states' requirements for CPR-certified personnel in schools found that a number of states specify that certain school personnel, including school health staff, athletic coaches