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TOPIC: IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION MANDATING THAT CARDIOPULMONARY

RESUSCITATION (CPR) TRAINING BE INCLUDED IN HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM
AND THAT RESOURCES FOR FOLLOW-UP CERTIFICATION BE PROVIDED

SUBMITTED BY: Stony Brook Student Nurses Association, Stony Brook, NY


WHEREAS, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) involves manual actions including chest
compressions to preserve brain function by restoring blood circulation and
breathing when the heart stops beating; and
WHEREAS, without CPR the chance of survival from cardiac arrest decreases by 7%-10% for
every minute without intervention; and
WHEREAS, in the United States bystander CPR is only given in about one-fourth of all out-of-
hospital cardiac arrests; and
WHEREAS, with the use of CPR the chance of survival can double or triple; and
WHEREAS, seventy percent of bystanders feel helpless to assist during cardiac arrest
because they do not know CPR or it has been too long since their last training;
and
WHEREAS, CPR training within high schools could be performed in as little as thirty minutes
of class time; and
WHEREAS, a study of 147 students ages 9-18, showed that 86% were able to perform CPR
successfully after being taught; and
WHEREAS, twelve states currently have legislation that requires CPR training for high school
graduation; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) support legislation
requiring that CPR be included in high school curriculum; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the NSNA encourage members to increase awareness of current CPR
legislation in their localities; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the NSNA encourage its members to write their state representatives urging
the passage of legislation that supports CPR training in high school curriculum
and request meetings when available to discuss the importance of such
legislation; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the NSNA encourage its constituents to remain updated on that encourages
CPR training as a component of high school curriculum, if feasible; and be it
further
RESOLVED, that the NSNA send a copy of this resolution to the American Academy of
Nursing, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family
Physicians, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American
Association of Critical Care Nurses, the American Nurses Association, the
American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the American
Public Health Association, the American Red Cross, the Association of Public
Health Nurses, the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Association,
the Emergency Nurses Association, the National League for Nursing, the
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National Organization for
Associate Degree Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, the National
Association of Bariatric Nurses, the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, the
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National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, the National Association of
School Nurses, the Society of Pediatric Nurses, the Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development, the American Heart Association, and all others
deemed appropriate by the NSNA Board of Directors.