New law will save lives in New York schools

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 24, 2025 – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul today signed lifesaving legislation (S.5585-A and A.785-A) into law that requires comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans (CERPs) in all of New York’s public schools, school athletic facilities and events. She signed the bills, which will go into effect early next year, at an event held during Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher University.

Last month, the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly unanimously passed both pieces of legislation. Sponsored by state Sen. April N.M. Baskin (Dist. 63) and state Assembly Member Michaelle Solages (Dist. 22), these measures require schools to create and practice a written plan to respond to cardiac emergencies on school grounds and for athletic venues and events.

The bills, known collectively as Desha’s Law, are named in memory of Baskin’s cousin, Desha, who went into cardiac arrest playing basketball in her middle school gym. According to Baskin, an automated external defibrillator (AED) was available in the school, but no one could locate the keys to open the unit.

The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, is a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which was established by the National Football League (NFL) in 2023 to advance policies like these that protect students from cardiac arrest across the U.S. In New York, individual advocates who are part of the American Heart Association’s Heart Powered™ nationwide grassroots network worked alongside coalition members to help pass this legislation, which will ensure schools are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to cardiac emergencies.

According to the New York State Department of Education, more than 2.4 million students, 215,000 teachers and countless parents and community members in New York rely on school facilities daily, making it essential that schools are prepared for cardiac emergencies. 

New York is the latest in a growing number of states nationwide that are moving to better prepare schools and school athletic programs to respond to cardiac arrests with the creation of cardiac emergency response plans. More than two dozen states have passed these laws. 

More than 350,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital in the United States each year. Currently, approximately only 10% of those people will survive, most likely because there were people nearby prepared to take action. CPR, if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.

An estimated 23,000 children under the age of 18 experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital annually in this country. Of those cases, approximately 40% are sports-related. Whether in the classroom or on the playing field, having a plan in place to enable faculty, staff and students to quickly and correctly respond to a cardiac emergency can save lives. In schools with AEDs, approximately 70% of children survive cardiac arrest—seven times the overall survival rate for children.

"As our Nation of Lifesavers Ambassador Damar Hamlin and the entire Buffalo Bills organization know, saving lives from sudden cardiac arrest depends on having a strong chain of survival across the emergency response system,” said American Heart Association Chief Executive Officer Nancy Brown. “Thank you to the elected officials in New York State and Gov. Hochul for implementing evidence-based policies that will save lives among students and others who suffer sudden cardiac arrest at school. We are proud to be working with the NFL and the Smart Heart Sports Coalition across all states as we help bystanders become lifesavers."

"As a mother of two children and Desha's cousin, I want to assure parents, staff and every student that I'm fighting for you if the unimaginable happens in your school,” Baskin said. “Requiring schools across New York to provide cardiac arrest training and a plan to access  their school’s AED will undoubtedly help children or others in the school with a life-threatening health crisis. Thank you to my partners in the state legislature and to Gov. Hochul for signing this vital legislation into law today. May Desha's memory save the lives of future student athletes and continue to live in all of our hearts forever."

"Desha's Law is a vital bill that will enable our schools to proactively plan and safeguard our student athletes,” Solages said. “This bill is about preparation, not panic, and about empowering health officials and athletic staff to save lives. We have seen how instances of cardiac arrest impact families from all backgrounds—whether on the national level or right here in our local school districts. I am ecstatic that we have passed this bill and appreciate the partnership of Sen. April Baskin, the American Heart Association and Gov. Kathy Hochul." 

“I’m still here today because bystanders became my lifesavers when I had a sudden cardiac arrest at church, two years and one day ago,” Ann Furner of Whitesboro said. “As a retired teacher and survivor, I advocated for cardiac emergency response plans in schools because anyone there can be a lifesaver. The passage of this bill means that the busiest places in our communities—schools—will have a firm plan in place to respond to sudden cardiac arrests. I can’t think of a better gift on this anniversary than being told that the students and schools where I taught for 34 years will now be safer.” 

Find out more information on cardiac emergency response plans on the American Heart Association’s website.