Senate committee advances bill to help students who suffer a cardiac arrest

Two years ago, Linton Beck unexpectedly suffered a cardiac arrest in his chemistry class.The Station Camp High School senior is alive today and able to talk about his experience thanks to the quick work of school staff and their training.Beck says a school nurse and teachers responded within minutes to perform CPR and a school resource officer restarted his heart with an automated external defibrillator (AED).It took two shocks.“The attention that I received is the reason that I am here today. The attention before the ambulance arrived, that gave me the best chance for survival. It not only saved my life, but it saved my functional life,” said Beck.Beck says staff at Station Camp High School staff were able to respond so effectively to his emergency in part because the school has undergone the requirements to receive the Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam’s Memory) Heart Safe School designation. Project ADAM is a nationwide initiative that aims to prevent death in children and teens due to sudden cardiac arrest.The initiative educates students and staff through lifesaving programs and works to ensure AEDs are available.Beck told his story Wednesday to members of the Senate Education Committee to support a proposal to expand training for cardiac emergencies to schools statewide.The “Smart Heart Act” would require school authorities to maintain an AED, develop, adopt and annually review a cardiac emergency response plan for school athletic activities, and establish, review, and annually rehearse an athletics emergency action plan to respond to serious or life-threatening injuries sustained during school athletics starting Sept 1.Additionally, it would require everyone involved in school athletics such as coaches to have training in CPR, first aid, and the use of an AED and would require an AED to be accessible during the school day and during athletic activities in grades 9-12.Under the bill, the AED must also have signage and be on sight and available in an unlocked location on school property that can be used within three minutes. The legislation would additionally require schools to work with local EMS to create written emergency plan that’s rehearsed annually.“I’m here to support the Smart Heart Act because my teachers were there for me, they were prepared, they were trained to provide help when I needed it most,” said Beck. “I know that this bill will save lives across Tennessee.”Former National Football League (NFL) player Delanie Walker joined Beck on behalf of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which was formed to advocate for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based policies that will prevent fatalities from sudden cardiac arrest among high school students.Senate committee members unanimously supported the legislation.Senator Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, pointed out the importance of quick medical attention for athletes was in full display earlier this year when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game.“I think we all watched in horror like most folks across this this country when we saw Damar Hamlin and that situation and him having access to such quick medical care was so important to saving his life. You know, with this legislation, if we can save one life, if we can save one student athlete, then it’s totally worth it,” said Akbari.The bill now heads to votes in the full Senate and House.