CPR Training is now Required for High School Graduation in State of Washington

Victory in Washington!  In February, we wrote about Washington’s Bill.  Starting with the graduating class of 2017, the State of Washington has made learning CPR a mandatory requirement before graduating from high school.  This is very exciting, as the number of people in Washington who are equipped with the skills to save lives will increase dramatically.

If you’re part of a school in the state of Washington, feel free to submit your school to get going on our free program.

Here is the text from House Bill 1556, which was signed into law on May 8, 2013:

1. Each school district that operates a high school must offer instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to students as provided in this section. Beginning with the graduating class of 2017 completion of the instruction is a requirement for passing at least one health and fitness class necessary for graduation.
2. Instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation under this section must:
   (a) Be an instructional program developed by the American heart association or the American red cross or be nationally recognized and based on the most current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
   (b) Include appropriate use of an automated external defibrillator; and
   (c) Incorporate hands-on practice in addition to cognitive learning.
3. School districts may offer the instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation directly or arrange for the instruction to be provided by available community-based providers. The instruction is not required to be provided by a certificated teacher. Certificated teachers providing the instruction are not required to be certified trainers of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A student is not required to earn certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to successfully complete the instruction for the purposes of this section.