Advocating for Heart Safety in Schools: American Heart Association’s day at the New York State Capitol
On January 28th, 2025, New York advocates took to the halls of the New York State Capitol with a powerful message: every child deserves a safe school environment, including protection from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
The American Heart Association’s annual State Lobby Day brought together 25 passionate advocates from across the state. Our advocates included sudden cardiac arrest survivors, medical professionals, parents and leaders from Project ADAM NY and the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation. The advocates joined the American Heart Association’s Government Relations and Grassroots teams in Albany to urge lawmakers to pass legislation requiring cardiac emergency response plans (CERPs) in all public schools.
Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death on school campuses, yet many schools are not fully prepared to respond to such emergencies. A well-implemented Cardiac Emergency Response Plan can mean the difference between life and death. These plans establish clear protocols for recognizing SCA, initiating CPR, accessing an automated external defibrillator (AED), and ensuring a coordinated response from emergency personnel.
By requiring CERPs in all public schools, New York can set a new standard for student and school community safety and ensure schools are prepared to respond in the event of a cardiac emergency.
Armed with personal stories of survival, loss and compelling data, advocates held twenty meetings with key legislators and staff, including the Governor’s Education Counsel and the chairs of the education committees in both the state Senate and the state Assembly.
The most powerful moments of the day came from parents who had lost children to sudden cardiac arrest, and people who had survived sudden cardiac arrest. Their stories resonated deeply with legislators, as they saw that real lives are behind the statistics.
We were all encouraged by the responses from lawmakers. Many expressed strong support for CERPs and recognized the importance of creating safer school environments for all.
As we move forward, we urge all New Yorkers to join us in this fight. Together, we can turn advocacy into action and ensure that everyone in every school in New York is prepared to save lives.
Overall, the New York Advocacy Day at the Capitol was a resounding success. It demonstrated the power of advocates uniting to change the future of health by speaking out and speaking up to advance policies that are improving lives and creating healthier communities.
Check out press coverage of the event from Long Island News 12 and help us spread the word by liking and sharing our Facebook post.