COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine chose Worthington Kilbourne High School in Columbus to sign House Bill 47 into law on Tuesday.
The bill requires automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be placed in every public and chartered nonpublic school in Ohio. It also requires them in all municipally owned or operated sports and recreation venues.
The location of the signing was significant because 12 months and 16 days ago, just a day after Canen Dickman's 15th birthday, he collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest on his soccer practice field at Kilbourne High School.
His school already had AEDs in place as well as an emergency action plan and his coach, Jon Sprunger, was well-trained in CPR. Those elements saved Canen's life.
"It's rare that we sign a bill that we pretty much know will immediately save lives," DeWine said during the event.
Under the bill, employees would be required to undergo special training on how to use AEDs and recognize the signs of cardiac arrest. Informational sessions for students on sudden cardiac arrest would be required before the start of any athletic season.
The measure also calls for the Ohio Department of Health to develop a model emergency action plan for schools, centers and sports groups to adopt on the use of AEDs.
According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading killer of student-athletes, most commonly occurring during or just after intense exercise. The good news is that nine out of 10 victims survive if they receive a shock from an AED in the first minute after an incident.
10TV WBNS contributed to this report.