Cardiac Emergency Response Plan; revise to include airway clearance devices.

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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Ladner

SENATE BILL NO. 2236

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-85, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REVISE CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS TO INCLUDE THE USE OF 2
AIRWAY CLEARANCE DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR 3
INSTANCES IN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL'S AIRWAY IS BLOCKED DUE TO 4
CHOKING; TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-87, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 5
INTEGRATE CERTAIN POLICIES RELATED TO CHOKING EMERGENCIES; AND FOR 6
RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. Section 37-11-85, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 9
amended as follows: 10
37-11-85. The following terms shall have the meanings 11
ascribed herein: 12
(a) "Cardiac and Choking Emergency Response Plan 13
( * * * CCERP)" shall mean a written document that establishes the 14
specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest and instances 15
in which an individual's airway is blocked due to choking in any 16
setting – be it a school, community organization, workplace, or 17
sports facility. 18
(b) "Automated External Defibrillator (AED)" shall mean 19
a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock 20
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through the chest to the heart. The shock can potentially stop an 21
irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and allow a normal rhythm to 22
resume following sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). 23
(c) "Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)" means when the heart 24
malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly, and if not treated 25
within minutes, it quickly leads to death. 26
(d) "Airway Clearance Device (ACD)" means a portable 27
medical device that uses manually created suction to remove 28
blockage from the airway during a choking emergency and has been 29
registered as a Class I or Class II acute upper airway obstruction 30
device with the United States Food and Drug Administration. 31
SECTION 2. Section 37-11-87, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 32
amended as follows: 33
37-11-87. (1) Beginning in the * * * 2026-2027 school year, 34
each public school shall develop a cardiac and choking emergency 35
response plan ( * * * CCERP) that addresses the appropriate use of 36
school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual 37
experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, airway obstruction due to 38
choking or a similar life-threatening emergency while on school 39
grounds. 40
(2) Beginning in the * * * 2026-2027 school year, each 41
public school with an athletic department or organized athletic 42
program shall develop a cardiac and choking emergency response 43
plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to 44
respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden 45
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cardiac arrest, airway obstruction due to choking or a similar 46
life-threatening emergency while attending or participating in an 47
athletic practice or event while on school grounds. 48
(3) School officials shall work directly with local 49
emergency service providers to integrate the * * * CCERP into the 50
community's EMS responder protocols. Each plan shall integrate 51
evidence-based core elements, such as those recommended by the 52
American Heart Association guidelines, the United States Food and 53
Drug Administration or another nationally recognized, 54
evidence-based standard. 55
(4) The * * * CCERP shall integrate, at a minimum, the 56
following guidelines: 57
(a) Establishing a cardiac and choking emergency 58
response team; 59
(b) Activating the team in response to a SCA or a 60
choking emergency; 61
(c) A plan for implementing AED and ACD placement and 62
routine maintenance within the school; 63
(d) Disseminating the plan throughout the school 64
campus; 65
(e) Maintaining ongoing staff training in CPR/AED/ACD 66
use; 67
(f) Practicing using drills annually; 68
(g) Integrating local EMS with the plan; and 69
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ST: Cardiac Emergency Response Plan; revise to
include airway clearance devices.
(h) Ongoing and annual review and evaluation of the 70
plan. 71
(5) Appropriate AED and ACD placement shall be dictated by 72
the * * * CCERP and in accordance with guidelines set by the 73
American Heart Association, the United States Food and Drug 74
Administration or another nationally recognized, evidence-based 75
standard. A school or local and regional board of education may 76
accept gifts, grants and donations, including in-kind donations 77
designated for the purchase of an AED and an ACD that meets the 78
standards established by the United States Food and Drug 79
Administration and for the costs incurred to inspect and maintain 80
such device and train staff in the use of such device. 81
(6) Appropriate school staff shall be trained in first-aid, 82
CPR, * * * AED use and ACD use that follow evidence-based 83
guidelines set forth by the American Heart Association, the United 84
States Food and Drug Administration or another nationally 85
recognized, evidence-based standard. Staff trained shall be 86
determined by the * * * CCERP, including, but not limited to, 87
licensed coaches, school nurses and athletic trainers. 88
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 89
and after its passage. 90