Schools
Pierson Teacher, Students Lobby in Albany for CPR
Legislation would make CPR training part of the high school curriculum across New York State.
Led by teacher Sue Denis, a group of students were among 80 volunteers from all over the state who traveled to Albany on Wednesday to encourage their legislators to pass the CPR in Schools Bill, which would enable every student in New York State to learn CPR before graduating high school.
CPR has been taught at Pierson since 1994, and since then, 16 lives have been saved, according to the American Heart Association, which organized the lobby day.
Denis, the health teacher at Pierson who initiated the AHA Heartsaver AED course there, was also presented with an advocacy award Wednesday for her efforts.
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“Imagine how many more lives could be saved if every student in New York was trained in CPR?” Denis is quoted as saying in an AHA statement. “We are here today to tell our legislators that it would be a real shame if this legislation didn’t pass this year. Let’s not let one more life be lost. Please pass the CPR in Schools bill.”
The CPR in Schools Bill passed through the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday and next goes to the Senate Finance Committee. It is sponsored by Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, D-Long Beach, and Sen. James Alesi, R-East Rochester. To date, 30 senators and 50 assembly members — including Fred W. Thiele Jr., I-Sag Harbor — have signed on as sponsors.
