“This bill will promote safer school sports and raise awareness of the importance of proper planning and preparation to prevent the tragic loss of young lives,” state Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, said after the bill passed unanimously last week.
The bill, which has been filed by the American Heart Association over the past few sessions, gained support after the 2010 death of Sutton High School’s Michael Ellsessar, who went into cardiac arrest during a junior varsity football game.
A month later Tyler Symes, a student from Blackstone-Millville Regional High School, was hit in the chest by a puck while playing on Milford High’s cooperative hockey team, and his heart stopped.
“A parent and a trainer and a nurse and referee all rus ed to help him. CPR was administered and a defibrillator was prepared,” said Moore, who represents the district where both incidents occurred. “There was a plan executed properly. He was placed in the ICU and ended up in Spaulding Rehab. He went home and hopes to play hockey again.”
Moore said although some schools have similar emergency plans, the bill would standardize requirements across the state.
“There is a necessity of having an emergency response plan regularly updated,” Moore said. “The schools need to practice it to make sure there are no holes in the plan when there is an actual emergency.”
The bill does not require schools to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for their buildings and athletic fields, but Moore said schools should seriously consider having them for emergencies.
“Contact sports really need these to save athletes’ lives,” Moore said. “We think it’s essential for schools to be familiar with AEDs. And schools can get them by applying for state grants or civic organizations can help donate.”
The bill also directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to survey all schools to determine the number of personnel or volunteers trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how many have access to AEDs.
Students from area school districts have lobbied for the bill during the past year, joining parents and school officials to visit the State House and email legislators.
“Over 200 students came to the State House in November and visited all the legislators, and they held a press conference. It was pretty incredible,” said state Rep. Ryan Fattman, R-Sutton. “The students have been very, very effective in getting this through. After that day, my inbox was completely full from legislators and staff in support of the bill.”
School officials also support the legislation. Rich Piergustavo, the athletic director at Milford High School, said it’s imperative for athletic trainers to have proper equipment for the health and welfare of the students.
“These AEDs can potentially save someone’s life,” Piergustavo said. “There is a huge upside to this equipment, which we saw here with saving Tyler.”
Piergustavo said a defibrillator already stays with the trainer at all times at his school, where it is mandatory for all coaches to know CPR and first aid.
However, when the Milford teams play on the road, there isn’t always the same safety level.
“If we’re not the host, the other school is responsible, but some schools don’t have AEDs,” Piergustavo said. “Our trainer doesn’t travel, so AEDs on the road is out of our control right now. Hopefully, all the other schools will now have AEDs.”
Peter Bruce, the guidance department director at Milford High School, also backs the Senate’s bill.
“It’s crucial to protect students, so it’s great to hear that it will be rolled out and implemented,” Bruce said. “AEDs are a great asset to the students and faculty, and other schools should definitely get them.
“We already have a district protocol for any kind of crisis,” Bruce said. “We make sure that all the people working for the schools are ready for anything. It’s great that all schools will also have these emergency plans.”
The bill now heads to the House, where area representatives are pleased to see it moving forward.
“This is a life-saving bill,” said state Rep. Kevin Kuros, R-Uxbridge. “Now my hope is that the House can approve this bill, and it can be on the governor’s desk for signature in the next couple weeks.”
State Rep. John Fernandes, D-Milford, also supports the bill. Fernandes said his children have been three-sport athletes, and he has seen the need for medical response plans.
“There is no question the athletes are put at risk every time they’re out there,” Fernandes said. “It’s very important to have these plans in place and have the necessary technology and assistance. It just makes sense.”
Fattman, the Sutton Republican, said the bill was passed by the Senate last session, but the legislative time clock ran out and the House didn’t have time to pass it. Fattman said this time will be different.
“This is my responsibility to get the bill through the House,” Fattman said. “It’s a huge priority of mine. These incidents have affected my district twice. It’s a commonsense plan with no additional cost to towns. Now it’s time to get the bill through.”
