California Gov. Jerry Brown has under a month to sign a new bill that would make CPR training a high school graduation requirement.
According to Capital Public Radio in California, the CPR in Schools legislation would require schools to teach students hands-on CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator.
"The provision of immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double a victim's chance of survival," Dr. John Maa, of the advocacy task force for the California American Heart Association, told Capital Public Radio. "What this bill will do is train a new generation of lifesavers in the community [to respond] to cardiac arrest at the scene."
The bill would go into effect during the 2018-2019 school year. If signed, California would become the 35th state to require the training.
[ See a CPR in Schools legislation map here. ]
Washington began requiring CPR training for schools in 2014.