Existing Law

The Nevaeh Youth Sports Safety Act was introduced to combat the reality that sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the number one killer of student athletes. 90% of SCA victims die because emergency intervention was not delivered within minutes of collapse when the heart and breathing suddenly stop. In response, AEDs were specifically designed for anyone to use by following audio/visual prompts to rescue an SCA victim. State and federal laws support the use of AEDs by the public, including through Good Samaritan laws that empower bystanders to provide emergency intervention. The CDC has long advocated for public access defibrillation programs to ensure bystanders have access to AEDs when needed.

Given cardiac emergency response plans are now required in school safety plans (AB 2887, 2024; AB 2009, 2019), if passed AB 310 will create parity for youth in both community and school settings by assuring the ready response to a cardiac emergency with an AED both on the field as in the classroom.

Why This Bill Matters

While AEDs have been a standard of care for decades, most Americans are more confident in responding to a natural disaster, fire or choking victim than they are using an AED. An American College of Cardiology study found even when an AED is a 4-minute walk from a cardiac arrest in a public place, the AED is only used 1 in 4 times, suggesting a critical need for more awareness of how to find and use an AED. The average on-scene arrival for EMS is seven to 13 minutes from when 911 is called. An SCA victim needs immediate emergency intervention within the first three to five minutes of collapse. Delays in CPR and an AED use decreases the chance of survival by 10% each minute. A recent study found that when a bystander uses an AED even when EMS arrive within two minutes, survival improves.

The Solution

AB 310 recognizes that having a restricted AED is in opposition to current law and evidence-based data that cardiac emergency response plans that empower a community saves lives. Several observational studies cited by the American College of Cardiology show an average survival rate from 64% to 72% when AEDs are used by bystanders, with even higher survival rates in this study on a school campus

If Enacted Into Law

AB 310 empowerment of anyone to use an AED recognizes this important step in the cardiac chain of survival, which could flip the outcome to a near 90% survival rate when a plan is in place to prepare teams to use the AED. As was the tragic inspiration for AB 1467 when emergency intervention for Nevaeh was delayed, AB 310 recognizes that having an AED is not enough—coaches, administrators, athletes and bystanders being prepared to take quick action will mean the difference between life and death for our young athletes.