HARRISBURG – The Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-40) to help schools across Pennsylvania prevent tragic deaths from sudden cardiac arrest among student athletes by ensuring access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and improving emergency response protocols.
Senate Bill 375 – championed by Brown and motivated by the life and legacy of Greg Moyer, who died of sudden cardiac arrest during a high school basketball game – would require schools to have an AED present at all PIAA-sanctioned athletic events and practices, and to develop and rehearse emergency plans for cardiac incidents.
“This bill is about saving lives and making sure every school is prepared for the unthinkable,” said Brown. “Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes, and we know that timely access to an AED can increase survival rates by up to 70%. We’ve lost too many young lives to sudden cardiac arrest, and the tools to prevent these tragedies are within reach. Today’s vote brings us one step closer to making AEDs and emergency planning standard, not optional, in our schools.”
Rachel Moyer, Greg’s mother and a longtime advocate for AED access in schools, praised the Senate’s action.
“We are ecstatic that Senate Bill 375 has passed the Senate. Thank you to every Pennsylvania senator who recognized the need to keep our children safe on the playing fields and in our schools,” said Moyer. “This bill honors my son Greg, and all the children lost to sudden cardiac arrest. For every parent who has faced this unimaginable loss, this is for you. The beat will go on.”
Brown was joined earlier this month at a Capitol press conference by families, health professionals and cardiac arrest survivors who underscored the urgent need for the legislation. According to national statistics, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death for student athletes and can strike without warning, even in young people with no known heart conditions.
Senate Bill 375 now advances to the House of Representatives for consideration.
CONTACT: Mackenzie Mueller