Bill > SR684

This resolution recognizes February 2026 as American Heart Month, aiming to raise awareness about cardiac arrest, a leading cause of death, and the critical importance of immediate action. It highlights that most out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, making bystanders, often family members, the first responders. The resolution emphasizes that prompt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a technique to manually pump blood and oxygen to the body, and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), a portable device that can shock the heart back into rhythm, can significantly increase survival rates. It notes that Hands-Only CPR (pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest) is effective for adults and teens, while infants and children require CPR with rescue breaths. The resolution also points out disparities in CPR delivery to women and calls for increased education and awareness to address this. It supports the American Heart Association's goal to double survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030 through initiatives like a "Nation of Lifesavers," which promotes community-based solutions such as CPR and AED training, public access to defibrillators, and emergency response plans in various settings to improve readiness and save lives.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72736