American Heart Association calls on Gov. Hochul to include Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in 2025

The American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives, applauds Gov. Kathy Hochul’s assertion that “Your family is my fight” heard repeatedly in today’s State of the State address.

“The governor’s proposed funding of breakfast and lunch at school for all of New York’s children benefits families in a positive and concrete way,” said Michael-Aaron Poindexter, chair of the board of directors of the American Heart Association in the Capital Region, chief community officer of the Regional Food Bank and Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church. “Having meals at school goes a long way toward addressing food insecurity, promoting equity, and fostering lifelong healthy eating habits for children. The anticipated $165 savings per child each month is also a relief to parents managing family budgets.”

While that’s a good start, the Association calls on the governor to fund Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in New York’s schools.

“Gov. Hochul spoke at length about safety today,” Poindexter said. “A great way to keep families safe is to have Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) in schools. Those plans make it very clear where the AED is and what steps will be taken if someone’s heart stops in the school. In addition to the students in schools all day, schools host parents and other community members at many different times of the day. Each year, nearly 350,000 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest, and only 10 percent survive. We can change that statistic and make the state safer with these plans in our schools.”

The American Heart Association will ask Gov. Hochul and the state Legislature to allot a minimum of $1 million to support the implementation of CERPs. In addition, the Association will also continue to advocate for funding of programs that improve health, like the State Tobacco Control Program, the Hypertension Prevention Program, and the Healthy Heart Program.   

Advocates from across the state will come to Albany for a Day of Advocacy on Tuesday, Jan. 28 to talk with their elected officials about these initiatives.

For information about the American Heart Association’s advocacy initiatives and to join their efforts, visit www.YoureTheCure.org.