JEFFERSON CITY — Public school students and faculty will have easier access to lifesaving automated external defibrillators (AED) under a proposal sponsored by State Sen. Elaine Gannon, R-De Soto. Senate Bill 773 will require every public school to install AEDs and appropriately train staff to operate and maintain the devices.
“Requiring our schools to have AEDs on-hand will undoubtedly save lives, especially in rural areas with limited emergency responders and prolonged response times,” said Sen. Gannon. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to usher this commonsense legislation into law.”
According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, 20% of the population in the United States is in an educational setting on a daily basis.
As of 2022, 20 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring AEDs in schools. Senate Bill 773 will authorize schools to appoint a program coordinator to oversee the district’s AEDs and staff trainings.
The legislation will also ensure devices comply with U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines and create a mechanism for reporting data to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and, subsequently, the General Assembly.
For more information about Sen. Gannon and her legislation, please visit her official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Gannon.