Kentucky Heart Health Advocates Push for Increased AED Funding and Implementation in Public Schools

Advocates Gather to Push for AED and Heart Health Funding

In a spirited show of advocacy, proponents of heart health assembled at the Capitol rotunda to urge Kentucky lawmakers to allocate funds to the state’s AED (Automated External Defibrillator) fund. Prominent organizations, including the American Heart Association (AHA) and other local groups, intend to support the establishment of Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in all public schools across the state.

Backing for Critical Legislation

As the General Assembly prepares the state’s budget for 2024-2026, these advocates are calling upon the public to contact their elected representatives to champion House Bill 169. This crucial legislation requires that all school buildings and athletic facilities be equipped with AEDs, potentially saving the lives of those suffering from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

According to statistics published by the AHA, an alarming 365,000 people experience SCA outside of hospital facilities every year. Without immediate bystander response, around 90% of these incidents tragically culminate in death.

A Personal Crusade for One Kentucky Father

Striving for student health and safety is more than just a cause for Matt Mangine—it’s a personal mission. After losing his son, Matthew, to sudden cardiac arrest following a soccer practice in 2020, Mangine established the Matthew Mangine ‘One Shot’ Foundation.

Despite five AEDs being present on their campus during that fateful night, the nearest AED was regrettably 250 feet away, behind a locked door, and not administered until Matthew had been collapsed for 12 minutes.
“Survival shouldn’t hinge on luck and happenstance; trained individuals equipped with AED knowledge can make the difference of life and death,” according to Mangine.

Building Upon Previous Achievements

Mangine was an ardent supporter of House Bill 331, passed last legislative session, requiring all middle and high schools to have a portable AED at school events. Now, this session’s House Bill 169 seeks to further these efforts by mandating AEDs in all public school buildings.

Supporting the bipartisan efforts are state Representatives Ruth Ann Palumbo, D-Lexington, and Kim Moser, R-Taylor Mill. Palumbo emphasizes that while sudden cardiac arrest is rare in young people, it does occur, hence the necessity of AEDs in every school building.

Tracking the Life-Saving Devices

In addition to providing AEDs, the proposal also compels every district to provide the department of education with a detailed plan outlining the exact number, location of AEDs and knowledgeable staff members within each school building. “That is critical because if you can’t find it, then you can’t use it,” cautioned Palumbo.

A Step Towards Progress

Kentucky was among the first states to implement evidence-based public policies to diminish fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among public school students—an initiative supported by the AHA, the NFL, and the Smart Heart Sports Coalition. These measures serve as reliable, life-saving solutions, ensuring that bystanders are prepared when faced with a cardiac emergency.