American Heart Association and advocates applaud new law to help students, faculty and staff save lives from sudden cardiac arrest
Advocates with the American Heart Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, celebrated on June 27 as Gov. Phil Scott signed lifesaving legislation. Bill H.480, a comprehensive education bill that includes a requirement for cardiac emergency response plans in all schools and school athletic programs, was passed by Vermont lawmakers just before the close of this year’s legislative session. The signing of this legislation is the culmination of the American Heart Association’s strong advocacy efforts throughout the session.
The American Heart Association and its HeartPowered advocates made this policy their top priority to ensure increased survival rates from cardiac arrests. As a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition with the NFL in 2023, the American Heart Association has built strong coalitions in all states, including Vermont where the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest is among the lowest in the country.
Milton High School sophomore Dominic Barcomb is living proof of response plan effectiveness. Just this January, Barcomb suffered a cardiac arrest while playing basketball at Spaulding High School. Fortunately, Spaulding had a cardiac emergency response plan in place, and because of it, Dominic is alive today. Dominic and his mother, Jenny, have been advocating for cardiac emergency response plans in schools ever since.
“I’m here because Spaulding High School had an AED ready, and people knew how to perform CPR,” Barcomb said. “Knowing that I could help make a difference for my peers and other kids who may experience a cardiac arrest in the future is incredibly meaningful.”
It is estimated that about 23,000 children under the age of 18 experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year in the U.S. Of those children, about 40% are sports- related. Whether in the classroom or on the playing field, having a plan in place to enable faculty, staff, and students to quickly and correctly respond to a cardiac emergency can save lives. In schools with AEDs, approximately 70% of children survive cardiac arrest – 7 times the overall survival rate for children.
More than 356,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital in the United States each year. In Vermont, only 7.5% of those people will survive. American Heart Association Government Relations Director Tina Zuk said low survival rates can be attributed to the lack of lay responder action.
“This law is so important because it helps to build a nation of lifesavers,” Zuk said. “Only 40% of victims get the immediate help they need before first responders arrive. That’s why bystander involvement is so crucial. CPR, if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. With CPR-trained teams ready to act and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at schools and sports, survival rates will go up.”
Kyle Peckham, head athletic trainer & assistant athletic director at Rice Memorial High School, was a key advocate of the implementation of cardiac emergency response plans across the state.
“These plans should not be optional, suggested or recommended,” Peckham said. “Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in sports. While the incidence in young athletes may be rare, the consequences of not being prepared are devastating. These plans will make the difference between life or death in students, faculty, staff and visitors of Vermont schools.”
Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, all Vermont schools and athletic programs will be required to implement cardiac emergency response plans, as outlined in H.480. These plans will include the establishment of a designated response team, regular CPR and AED training, strategic placement and maintenance of publicly accessible AEDs, practice drills, coordination with emergency medical services and ongoing evaluation to ensure effectiveness.
There have been 24 cardiac arrests at Vermont schools in the last 10 years. Approximately 215 schools have AEDs, but a survey conducted by students at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine found only 84 have cardiac emergency response plans.
With this legislation, Vermont is setting a precedent for prioritizing student safety and empowering communities to act in moments that matter most.
The coalition supporting this legislation in Vermont included:
- American Heart Association
- Vermont State School Nurses Association
- American College of Cardiology – Norther New England Chapter
- Vermont Association of Athletic Trainers
- Vermont Association of Family Physicians
- Vermont Medical Society
- American Academy of Pediatrics – Vermont Chapter
- University of Vermont Children’s Hospital
- University of Vermont Health Network
- Cardiac Kids of Vermont
- Vermont Public Health Association
- Miss Vermont Scholarship Organization
