Gov. Dewine signs legislation requiring AEDS in schools and sport venues

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSAZ) – A life-saving tool is coming to Ohio schools and sports venues.

Gov. Mike Dewine signed Ohio House Bill 47 into law on Tuesday. It requires automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be in every public and chartered nonpublic school in Ohio and all municipally owned or operated sports and recreation venues.

Previously, AEDS were recommended but not required by Ohio law.

“The evidence is clear: AEDs save lives,” DeWine said. “While we know that sudden cardiac arrest is the number one killer of student-athletes in America, we also know the vast majority who get immediate help from an AED survive. The difference these devices make is astounding. Having them on standby in our schools to safeguard our students is a must.”

The governor was joined by Worthington Kilbourne student-athlete Canen Dickman and his family. Dickman says an AED and the quick action of his coaches saved his life last year after he collapsed from a sudden cardiac arrest during a summer soccer practice. His coaches responded immediately, performing CPR and using an AED from a nearby building to restore Canen’s pulse before he was transported to the hospital.

Jon Sprunger, Canen’s soccer coach, has coached soccer for about 33 years and never expected to use his CPR and AED training.

“I never expected to use it,” Sprunger said. “It was one day after [Canen’s] 15th birthday. Both of us, as well as Canen’s parents, see life differently now.”

Sprunger said his years of training kicked in and things became second nature as was providing emergency care to Dickman.

AEDs have been demonstrated to save lives during cardiac emergencies. According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is the number one killer of student-athletes, most commonly occurring during or just after intense exercise. However, nine out of 10 victims survive if they receive a shock from an AED in the first minute after an incident, according to the American Heart Association.

Canen recovered and is now back playing soccer once again, according to Sprunger.

The experience prompted Canen to begin advocating for legislation requiring AEDs in schools. Canen and his mom, Pamela Dickman, along with Worthington Kilbourne head soccer coach Jon Sprunger, who administered the AED during Canen’s cardiac emergency, joined the governor for Tuesday’s ceremony.

“We hope that the passing of this bill will help save lives, just as mine was saved, because if it weren’t for AEDs and CPR training in our school, I would not be here today. Thank you, Governor DeWine,” Canen said.

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will develop a system for violations to be reported if schools do not properly place AEDs in their facilities or fail to adopt and practice an emergency action plan.

The bill also requires schools to train teachers, administrators, coaches, athletic trainers, and anyone else supervising student-athletes on how and when to use AEDs.

Dewine acknowledged while no funding was provided to cover the costs of AEDS, he hopes organizations understand the importance of the life-saving tool.

He also explained the Legislature could allocate funding for organizations to help cover the costs, should they choose to do so.

Representatives from the National Football League (NFL) also attended Tuesday’s bill-signing ceremony.

The Smart Heart Sports Coalition was founded in response to the life-saving emergency response and care provided to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2023.

Hamlin wrote a letter of support for HB 47, which was read during Tuesday’s ceremony.

“Today’s bill-signing is a testament to leadership and teamwork, and I thank and applaud Governor DeWine, the leaders of the Ohio legislature, the bill sponsors, and the many Smart Heart Sports Coalition team members who came together to move this life-saving legislation forward,” Hamlin said as part of his letter. “I’ll always consider Ohio my second home, and I’m delighted that this new law makes the places around the state where young people learn, play, and compete safer, more resilient, and better prepared to respond to a cardiac emergency. This is a big win for young people throughout Ohio.”

Read Damar Hamlin’s Full Statement

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