Defibtech Celebrates the Passage of Life-Saving Legislation Strengthening Access to AEDs

December 17, 2024  •  Guilford, CT

Guilford, Conn. – Last week, the United States Senate passed H.R. 6829, the Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, and Research, and AED Training in the Schools (HEARTS) Act of 2024. The legislation included language from H.R.2370/S.1024, Access to AEDs Act. It was led by Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6),  Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), and Bill Posey (R-FL-8), as well as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).  The bill passed the Senate unanimously, demonstrating widespread bipartisan support.

According to Parent Heart Watch, a leading national nonprofit dedicated to preventing Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), 1 in 300 youth has an undetected heart condition and up to 23,000 youth are stricken annually by sudden cardiac arrest. SCA can happen to anyone despite their age or athletic ability, and SCA is the leading cause of death among student athletes, which is why easy access to AEDs and training on how to use them is so critical. The HEARTS Act strengthens the response to SCA in schools by helping students and school personnel to be prepared with the education and tools needed to respond in these crucial moments. The legislation also directs the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to award $25 million in grant funding over a five-year period to elementary and secondary schools. These grants can support purchasing or replacing AEDs and related equipment, as well as developing a cardiac emergency response plan.

Over the last two years, Defibtech is proud to have worked closely with the champions of the legislation, building widespread and bipartisan support. In addition to celebrating the filing of Access to AEDs, Defibtech activated its advocacy network with dozens of our partner organizations meeting with members of Congress and sharing their personal stories.
 
“The HEARTS Act is a major victory,” said Joseph Mullally, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for Defibtech. “Providing access to AEDs in schools and ensuring that they have cardiac emergency action plans in place will save lives from sudden cardiac arrest. It has been an honor to work alongside lawmakers and advocates to help advance this extremely important, life-saving legislation.”

“The passage of the HEARTS Act through both chambers of Congress marks a monumental step forward in ensuring that schools across America have the life-saving tools and training they need to respond to cardiac emergencies,” said Senator Booker. “I am proud that the House worked with my office to include major provisions of my Access to AEDs Act so that we can save lives and ensure teachers, coaches, and students are prepared to take immediate action in an emergency. After the passage of this bill through the House, I requested it to be hotlined through the Senate and am pleased it passed unanimously and is now on its way to President Biden’s desk.”

“The Senate passage of the HEARTS Act is a major step forward in providing schools with the proper training and resources to give life-saving care to someone experiencing cardiac distress. When someone is in cardiac arrest, having an AED nearby – and someone who knows how to use it – is the difference between life and death. I’ve long championed efforts to expand access to emergency health care, and I applaud my colleagues for their support in passing this critical legislation. I look forward to swift action from the President—action that will in turn save lives,” said Senator Blumenthal.”

“This is a major step forward in protecting young lives," Congressman Frank Pallone said. "My HEARTS Act will help schools be better prepared to act quickly in a cardiac emergency, saving lives that would otherwise be lost. Tragic losses like that of Edison’s Kittim Sherrod underscore the urgency of this effort, and I’m proud to see the Senate join us in passing this life-saving legislation. Now, I urge the President to sign it into law."
 
“As a mom and Member of Congress, I’m on a mission to expand life-saving healthcare tools to children nationwide by equipping schools with AEDs and training for cardiac emergencies,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. “By increasing access to these vital tools, we can protect our schoolchildren when disaster strikes. I am proud to help advance the HEARTS Act of 2024, which aims to prevent tragedies like those we witnessed with NFL player Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills. The HEARTS Act ensures families can feel confident about their children's safety at school. It includes my Access to AEDs Act, which increases survival rates from sudden cardiac arrests, allowing kids to return home safely after emergencies. I look forward to President Biden signing this critical piece of legislation into law.”

Defibtech is grateful for the unwavering support and leadership from our partners in Congress and their commitment to improving access to and education about this life-saving equipment.  Prior to last week’s Senate action, the HEARTS Act passed the House in October. It now heads to President Biden’s desk for his signature.
 

About Defibtech

Defibtech is a leader and innovator in the design and manufacture of life-saving resuscitation devices including automated external defibrillators (AEDs), mechanical chest compressors, and related accessories that the public and healthcare professionals depend on every day.  With more than 600,000 AED units shipped worldwide, Defibtech is committed to saving lives by producing the best AEDs that advanced medical technology has to offer. Headquartered in Guilford, Conn., all of Defibtech’s life-saving products are conceived and developed in-house and are designed and built in the United States at their state-of-the-art facilities. For more information about Defibtech and its products, visit www.defibtech.com.