SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 9

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR KIM-SELBY

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 9: AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS: SIGNS: PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, READILY DISCERNIBLE SIGNS USING INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SYMBOLS ARE REQUIRED IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO PROMOTE SAFETY, WARN OF DANGERS, AND INDICATE THE LOCATION OF PARTICULAR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CREATE A STATEWIDE SYMBOL FOR AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS, DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO THE MEANING OF THE SYMBOL, AND REQUIRE THAT THE SYMBOL BE READILY DISCERNIBLE, PLACED NEAR AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS, AND PLACED AT THE ENTRANCE OF ANY BUILDING CONTAINING SUCH A DEVICE.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 9: RELATING TO AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR SIGNS

WHEREAS, SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST (SCA) IS A MAJOR LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES, CLAIMING APPROXIMATELY 325,000 LIVES EACH YEAR; AND

WHEREAS, THE COMMON CAUSE OF SCA IS VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION, WHICH OCCURS WHEN THE HEART’S ELECTRICAL IMPULSES BECOME IRREGULAR AND THE HEART IS UNABLE TO PUMP OXYGEN-RICH BLOOD THROUGH THE BODY; AND

WHEREAS, ONCE A VICTIM BEGINS TO SUFFER SCA, EVERY MINUTE THAT PASSES WITHOUT MEDICAL INTERVENTION TO RESTORE A NORMAL HEART RHYTHM GREATLY DECREASES THE VICTIM’S CHANCE OF SURVIVAL; AND

WHEREAS, AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS (AED) ARE MEDICAL DEVICES, USABLE BY TRAINED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THAT CAN RESTORE NORMAL HEART RHYTHM TO VICTIMS OF SCA; AND

WHEREAS, MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED PROGRAMS PLACING AND MAINTAINING AEDS IN PUBLIC LOCATIONS AND TRAINING THE PUBLIC IN HOW TO OPERATE THE DEVICE; AND

WHEREAS, THESE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUPPORT FROM LOCAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE ENTITIES, HAVE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED THE SURVIVAL RATES
OF VICTIMS OF SCA IN THOSE COMMUNITIES; AND

WHEREAS, A PROGRAM TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE SYMBOL FOR AN AED AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE MEANING OF THAT SYMBOL WOULD INCREASE THE ABILITY OF CALIFORNIANS TO RECOGNIZE THE LOCATION OF AN AED, AND MAY ENCOURAGE MANY CALIFORNIANS TO BE TRAINED ON HOW TO PROPERLY USE THE DEVICE; AND

WHEREAS, A PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE USE AND LOCATION OF AEDS COULD BE SUPPORTED AND IMPLEMENTED BY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN COOPERATION WITH PRIVATE MEDICAL INDUSTRIES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEART HEALTH, AND

WHEREAS, REQUIRING THE POSTING OF A SIGN WITH A STATEWIDE, UNIFORM SYMBOL FOR AN AED THAT THE PUBLIC IS EDUCATED TO UNDERSTAND NEAR AN AED, AND ON THE ENTRANCE OF A BUILDING THAT CONTAINS THE DEVICE, WOULD ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS AND USE AN AVAILABLE AED DURING A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY; AND

WHEREAS, THE COST OF SIGNAGE WOULD BE BORNE BY THE OWNER OF THE AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2008 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT A STATEWIDE SYMBOL FOR AN AED PLACED ON MANDATORY SIGNS, UNDERSTOOD BY THE PUBLIC AS INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF A NEARBY AED, MAY SAVE COUNTLESS LIVES OF CALIFORNIANS AND VISITORS TO CALIFORNIA BY INDICATING ACCESS TO THIS LIFE-SAVING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN 08 22025

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