By Kayode Crown
al.com
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Gov. Kay Ivey this week signed a bill requiring all Alabama K-12 schools to develop cardiac emergency response plans.
The John Wesley Foster Act honors a 9-year-old boy from Gadsden who died from cardiac arrest in 2006, WAFF reported.
“John Wesley was a devoted, loving child who loved sports, his family and would often help others,” said Wesley’s mother, Heather Anderson, according to WAFF’s report. “As a nurse, I know how important it is for everyone to learn CPR. When someone suffers cardiac arrest, we all need to act quickly, call 911 and start CPR before paramedics arrive.”
The new law requires local boards of education and governing bodies of private schools to work directly with local emergency services providers beginning in the 2025-26 school year. They must develop cardiac emergency response plans and integrate them into the community’s emergency medical services responder protocols.
Other aspects of the law include:
- Mandated training of selected school staff in first aid, CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator.
- Proper placement and maintenance of AEDs on school property.
- Establishment of a cardiac emergency response team and procedures to activate the team during a sudden cardiac arrest or similar life-threatening emergency on school property, including during athletic activities.
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