Cardiac emerg. plans/schools

AN ACT Relating to cardiac emergency response plans in schools; 1
and adding a new section to chapter 28A.210 RCW. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28A.210 4
RCW to read as follows: 5
(1) Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, each school district 6
shall develop a cardiac emergency response plan for each school 7
within the district and for each athletic facility on a school 8
campus, to prepare for persons who may experience a cardiac arrest on 9
school property, including participants and attendees of athletic 10
practices and events. 11
(2) School officials shall work with local emergency service 12
providers to integrate the cardiac emergency response plans into the 13
community's emergency service response protocols. 14
(3)(a) Each cardiac emergency response plan required by this 15
section must include evidence-based core elements, such as those 16
recommended by the American heart association or other evidence-based 17
organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care.18
(b) Each cardiac emergency response plan must:19
H-2919.1
HOUSE BILL 2549
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Rule, Stonier, Parshley, Pollet, Leavitt, Donaghy,
Scott, and Obras
Read first time 01/16/26. Referred to Committee on Education.
p. 1 HB 2549
(i) Designate a cardiac emergency response team comprised of 1
school staff and inclusive of coaches, school nurses, athletic 2
trainers, teachers, counselors, and administrators;3
(ii) Establish procedures for activating the cardiac emergency 4
response team if a person experiences cardiac arrest on school 5
property; 6
(iii) Designate locations for the installation of automated 7
external defibrillators throughout campus, including at each campus 8
athletic facility, with the goal of being able to place an automated 9
external defibrillator on a person within three minutes of becoming 10
aware of a cardiac arrest; 11
(iv) Establish a regular maintenance schedule, in accordance with 12
the manufacturer's operational guidelines, for automated external 13
defibrillators installed on school property; 14
(v) Establish a regular schedule, consistent with guidelines set 15
by the American heart association or other evidence-based 16
organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care, for cardiac 17
emergency response team training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 18
first aid, and automated external defibrillator use;19
(vi) Establish dates, at least annually, when the plan will be 20
rehearsed in each school by the individuals who will be responsible 21
for executing the plan in an emergency; 22
(vii) Describe the coordination and integration of the cardiac 23
emergency response plan with local emergency service providers; and24
(viii) Establish procedures for responding to incidents of 25
cardiac arrest that occur off-campus during school-sponsored events.26
(4) Staff from each school shall review and update their cardiac 27
emergency response plan at least annually. 28
(5) School staff training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first 29
aid, and automated external defibrillator use must follow evidence-30
based guidelines set by the American heart association or other 31
evidence-based organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care.32
(6) Locations for automated external defibrillator installations 33
must be determined by the cardiac emergency response plan and in 34
accordance with guidelines set by the American heart association or 35
other evidence-based organization focused on emergency cardiovascular 36
care. Each automated external defibrillator must be identified with 37
clear signage and stored in an unlocked location on school property 38
that is easily accessible during the school day and during school-39
p. 2 HB 2549
sponsored athletic events or team practices in which pupils of the 1
school are participating. 2
(7) Each automated external defibrillator must be tested and 3
maintained by the school according to the manufacturer's operational 4
guidelines and local emergency service providers must be notified of 5
its type and location. 6
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p. 3 HB 2549