Ryan Hamlin Joins Representatives to Introduce Access to AEDs Act, Aimed at Increasing Awareness and Access to Life-Saving Devices in Schools

NFL player Ryan Hamlin recently joined Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Bill Posey on Capitol Hill to introduce the Access to AEDs Act. The Act is aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest in children and increasing access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in schools.

Hamlin, who suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game in January, shared that more than 7,000 children under the age of 18 experience sudden cardiac arrest every year in the United States. He also noted that the majority of these kids are student-athletes, and research shows that 1 in every 300 youth have an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk.

The Access to AEDs Act seeks to increase awareness of the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest in children and increase access to AEDs in schools. Hamlin noted that the survival rate for children from sudden cardiac arrest is seven times higher when AEDs are available.

The Act is supported by the American Heart Association and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, among other organizations. The Act would provide grants to schools to purchase AEDs and provide training for staff and students on how to use them.

Hamlin’s experience with sudden cardiac arrest has brought attention to the dangers of the condition and the importance of having AEDs available in schools. With the introduction of the Access to AEDs Act, schools will have increased access to the life-saving devices, and more children will be protected from the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest.