It’s Time to Cultivate the Next Generation of Life Savers

Each year, more than 350,000 people in the United States experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, with survival rates decreasing by 7–10% for every minute without immediate CPR. Despite the proven effectiveness of CPR and AED use, an estimated 758,000 California students —40% of the state’s public and charter high school population in 1,147 schools across 186 school districts— currently lack access to this life-saving skill.

“CPR and AED training can mean the difference between life and death,” said Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D. “This legislation ensures every student graduates with the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency. These are simple, proven skills that save lives and help close long-standing gaps in survival outcomes.”

Research shows that cardiac arrest victims in low-income Black and Hispanic communities are significantly less likely to receive bystander CPR, and Black and Hispanic children are less likely than White children to receive CPR.

California Department of Education Census Day enrollment data shows the majority of the three-quarters-of-a-million youth currently excluded from CPR/AED learning represent our state’s diverse socio-economic student population, where these life-saving skills are most needed to create equity in survival. Of the 758,000, 77% racially or ethnically identify as other than white, and also represent 43% and 42% of the state’s total Hispanic and Black high school student population. Further, 65% of the currently excluded students qualify under socio-economically disadvantaged (SED) status.

According to CARES, California has the highest number of sudden cardiac arrests and one of the nation’s lowest survival rates. Forty-one states and Washington, D.C. already require CPR training for high school graduation, and SB 945 would align California with national best practices while equipping students with the knowledge and skills to save lives.