North Carolina lawmakers are pushing forward legislation that would require automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in every public school, while also expanding CPR and emergency response training for school personnel.
Former East Carolina University track athlete Hailey Yentz shared her own experience at the North Carolina Legislative Building this week after collapsing in a campus weight room and going 10 minutes without a pulse before Athletic Trainers revived her using an AED.
“What most of us aren’t usually thinking about when we walk into a building is that the people around us and the equipment in that building could determine whether we live or die,” Yentz said.
The proposed “Rep. Becky Carney Cardiac Arrest Act” would require at least one AED in every public school and mandate CPR and defibrillator training for school staff. A separate Senate proposal would go even further by requiring schools to create cardiac emergency response plans, hold annual drills, and ensure AEDs can be accessed within three minutes.
Carolina Panthers Athletic Trainer Denny Kellington—widely recognized for helping save Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during his on-field cardiac arrest in 2023—also voiced support for the legislation.
“You don’t want to be able to go talk to a parent and say, ‘Oh, we wish we had an AED available,’” Kellington said.
The legislation comes as schools across the country continue strengthening emergency preparedness protocols, with Athletic Trainers often leading those efforts behind the scenes.
Whether through AED access, emergency action planning, or staff training, Athletic Trainers remain central to the rapid response systems that can make the difference during cardiac emergencies. Read the full story here!