Sometimes, the Statehouse deserves kudos
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This has been a long road. From 2014…
Illinois firefighters and advocates from the American Heart Association applauded Governor Quinn for signing House Bill 3724 into law at the annual Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois convention in Bloomington-Normal. The legislation, which takes effect immediately, will require Illinois high schools to add Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training to their curriculum.
“This legislation will create a new generation of lifesavers in Illinois,” said Lynne T. Braun, PhD, Chair of the American Heart Association’s Illinois Advocacy Committee.
The bill was named for Lauren Laman, a 17-year-old in St. Charles, IL, who collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest during dance practice at school. CPR was not given before EMS arrived and no AED was used, even though there was one nearby. Lauren’s family members worked closely with Representative Dan Burke, Senator John Mulroe, and the American Heart Association to advocate for this new law.
* Ten years later…
The American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, announced that HB5394, which requires schools and school athletic facilities to have comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans (CERPs), was signed into law by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
* Last year…
Senate Bill 3571 (P.A. 103-1019) ensures all Illinois schools have automated external defibrillators available during the school day and extracurricular activities.
* This week…
A teenage athlete was taken to the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest Monday evening during a track meet at Huntley High School.
The Huntley Fire Protection District responded at 7:20 p.m. Monday to the high school at 13719 Harmony Road for the report of someone in cardiac arrest on the track, according to fire district officials.
Emergency personnel were notified en route that CPR was in progress and there was an automated external defibrillator on the scene.
Before crews arrived, dispatchers said the AED delivered a shock, and they believed the teen had a pulse.
Great job!
- OneMan - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 8:41 am:
One of our required questions we have to ask the home team as IHSA officials is if there is an AED on site (it’s not required but we still ask) good to know that the odds of someone knowing how to use it will be going up.
Especially as a middle aged big guy running around a football field.
- just because - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 8:48 am:
A point that you missed was that there also were 2 off duty firefighter parents on site watching the track meet that immediately went into action. Kudos to all that prevented a tragedy.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, May 13, 26 @ 9:04 am:
Great job! But you have to wonder why schools weren’t always doing this and that a piece of legislation was required to force them to.