Athletic directors praise new AED state requirements
Tuscarawas Co. (WJER) (Aug. 1, 2024) – Local athletic directors are expressing support for the new state law that requires automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, to be placed in nearly every school and sports venue in Ohio.
New Philadelphia’s Tim Fortney says this follows Lindsay’s Law, which was passed in 2017 to educate everyone involved in youth sporting events about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.
“AEDs and having access to them and knowing where they’re located for all of our sporting events, but even in schools in general, that’s become very important for all of us,” said Fortney.
The Ohio bill was prompted by the collapse of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin in Cincinnati last year. Fortney says statistics show adults are generally at greater risk and this law benefits more than just the high-profile athletes. It could also save coaches, officials, and even fans attending these events during cardiac emergencies.
Most of these facilities in Tuscarawas County already have AEDs, but Indian Valley Athletic Director Zach Golec says now making it a requirement, rather than a recommendation, is still a good idea.
“They’re important to have,” said Golec. “They’re those types of things where you know you hope you never have to use it, but you’re glad that it’s there for if something like that would ever need to be used, you’re glad that it’s there and glad that you have it available.”
The law also will require school employees to undergo special training on using AEDs and student athletes to go through sessions about cardiac arrest before each sports season.
Fortney says he was planning to discuss the district’s emergency action plan at his annual fall coaches meeting this week, which includes making sure all coaches and athletes know where the AEDs are in district facilities.