20-2-775. Automated external defibrillator required in high schools; requirements; funding.

As used in this Code section, the term:#

1. (1)

   “Automated external defibrillator” means a defibrillator which:#

   1. (A)

      Is capable of cardiac rhythm analysis;#

   2. (B)

      Will charge and be capable of being activated to deliver a countershock after electrically detecting the presence of certain cardiac dysrhythmias; and#

   3. (C)

      Is capable of continuously recording cardiac dysrhythmia at the scene with a mechanism for transfer and storage or for printing for review subsequent to use.#

2. (2)

   “Emergency action plan” means the plan established pursuant to paragraph (5)of subsection (c) of this Code section to provide for an emergency response to a person in cardiac arrest.#

3. (3)

   “Internal response team” means the team of school personnel established pursuant to paragraph (7) of subsection (c) of this Code section responsible for oversight of an emergency response to a person in cardiac arrest and implementation of the emergency action plan.#

4. (4)

   “School” means a public school in this state which provides K-12 education.#

No later than July 1, 2025, each school in this state shall have at least one functional automated external defibrillator on site at such school at all times and easily accessible during all school hours and during any school related function, including athletic practices, athletic competitions, and other occasions where students and others will be present, for use during emergencies.#

Each school shall:#

1. (1)

   Ensure that each member of the internal response team and any other expected users of the automated external defibrillator receive American Heart Association or American Red Cross training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use or complete an equivalent nationally recognized course;#

2. (2)

   Notify the appropriate emergency medical services system of the existence and location of each automated external defibrillator prior to said automated external defibrillator being placed in use;#

3. (3)

   Ensure that the automated external defibrillator is maintained and tested according to the manufacturer’s operational guidelines;#

4. (4)

   Ensure that there is involvement of a licensed physician or other person authorized by the Georgia Composite Medical Board in the site’s automated external defibrillator program to ensure compliance with requirements for training, notification, and maintenance;#

5. (5)

   Establish a written emergency action plan that adheres to nationally recognized standards and that establishes specific steps to take during a cardiac emergency in a school setting. Such plan shall be designed to provide for an effective system for communication between members of the internal response team and other school officials, ensuring that the internal response team or other designated personnel activate the emergency medical services system as soon as reasonably possible after any person renders emergency care or treatment to a person in cardiac arrest by using an automated external defibrillator and report any clinical use of the automated external defibrillator to the licensed physician or other person authorized by the Georgia Composite Medical Board who is supervising the program, and ensuring that emergency medical services personnel are led directly to the exact location of the person in cardiac arrest;#

6. (6)

   Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year and each school year thereafter, conduct a minimum of two emergency action plan practice drills per school year, with at least one per semester. One such practice drill may be a tabletop drill to walk through a hypothetical scenario and the courses of action a school will need to take before, during, and after a cardiac emergency. The emergency action plan practice drills shall include various locations on school grounds and responses to different hypothetical situations;#

7. (7)

   Establish a designated internal response team composed of:#

   1. (A)

      At least five school staff members;#

   2. (B)

      One or more designated team leads trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use and responsible for oversight of an emergency response;#

   3. (C)

      One or more designated cardiopulmonary resuscitation leads trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use;#

   4. (D)

      One or more designated automated external defibrillator leads responsible for knowing the location of automated external defibrillators, retrieving automated external defibrillators, and maintenance of automated external defibrillators; and#

   5. (E)

      One or more designated communication leads responsible for activating the emergency medical services system, facilitating directions to the person in cardiac arrest for emergency medical services personnel upon arrival at the school, and coordinating communications with the designated team lead or leads; and#

8. (8)

   Apprise all school personnel of the location of automated external defibrillators and the members of the internal response team.#

Subject to appropriations by the General Assembly, the Department of Education shall provide funds to local school systems to assist in the purchase of automated external defibrillators pursuant to this Code section.#

The department and local school systems shall use diligent efforts to identify private sources of funding or donation of funding and equipment to meet the requirements of this Code section.#