The New York State Senate has passed a bill, introduced by Sen. Jim Alesi (R-Perinton) that aims to incorporate basic CPR instruction into public high school curriculum.
Currently, CPR may be offered as a voluntary addition to health classes.
If passed, the legislation would not require students to become CPR certified, but would give them the option of learning basic "hands-only" CPR and AED traning in a regular health or physical education class.
Alesi has performed CPR twice in his lifetime. He said that if passed, the legislation will increase awareness of the life-saving technique.
"As we continue to hear more stories about our state’s young people suffering from sudden cardiac arrest, I cannot think of a better combatant than arming entire generations of New Yorkers with basic CPR skills," he said in a statement.
The bill will be sent to the Assembly, where it is sponsored by Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Island).