ECC Beat 12/19/2024

Exciting News! HEARTS Act unanimously passes U.S. Senate

Last  week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Cardiomyopathy, Health Education, Awareness, Research and Training in Schools (HEARTS) Act, which will ensure schools nationwide are properly trained and equipped for cardiac emergencies. Championed by Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin, who survived a cardiac arrest thanks to prompt CPR and AED use, the bill will now go to President Joe Biden for his signature.

Once it becomes law and the program is funded, the HEARTS Act will make resources available to help U.S. public schools develop cardiac emergency response plans, including CPR-trained students and staff and campuses with readily accessible AEDs. These measures are crucial for the survival of the approximately 23,000 children who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year in the U.S.

Ahead of the Senate vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer held a press conference on Dec. 9 at Cheektowaga Central High School in Buffalo, New York, where he was joined by Damar, Nancy Brown, CEO of the AHA, and Jeff Miller, NFL EVP of Communications, Public Affairs & Policy, and other elected officials.

Before a large audience of elementary and high school students, nurses, teachers and local politicians, Leader Schumer urged Congress to complete its works on the HEARTS Act during the press conference. The HEARTS Act was passed the very next day. Bipartisan congressional supporters included Schumer, Sens. Cory Booker and Susan Collins and Reps. Frank Pallone, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Bill Posey. Access a recording of the press conference here.

The passage of this important legislation completes nearly two years of advocacy work by the AHA and its partners. To learn more about the HEARTS Act and thank lawmakers for their support of this lifesaving bill, visit www.yourethecure.org/aed.

Atlas Updates
The AHA is pleased to announce the latest enhancements to the Atlas platform, which were implemented on December 17, 2024. Please see below for additional details.

1. All pending alignment requests will now display the Instructor’s first, last name, and email address.

2. You can now copy the requesting Instructor’s email address by selecting the icon to the right of the listed email address as highlighted below.

In addition to these enhancements to Atlas, we have made additional tweaks to the “Find a Class” tool.

2. The pins on the map will now display additional details around what classes are being offered at that location. Please note that the number on each pin identifies the number of classes being held at that location.

Health for the Holidays: The Gift That Keeps on Giving!

Giving a gift that promotes health can be a powerful way to show you care. Dr. Laurence Sperling from Emory University suggests that gifts encouraging better eating, sleeping, or exercising habits can convey extra affection. Experts from the American Heart Association recommend fitness-related gifts tailored to the recipient’s interests, such as portable and versatile gear like yoga mats or resistance bands. Class passes or gym memberships can also be great options, especially if they come with a commitment to spend time together.

Fitness trackers are another excellent gift idea, helping recipients monitor their activity levels and heart health. Dr. Cindy Lin from the University of Washington highlights the importance of choosing trackers with features like step tracking and long battery life. For more healthy gift ideas, check out the full article here. Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season!

1. Copyright Ownership:
   The AHA owns the copyrights to its textbooks, manuals, and other ECC (Emergency Cardiovascular Care) training materials. These materials are protected under copyright law and may only be used in official AHA courses. Copying or reproducing AHA materials without prior written consent is prohibited. Requests for permission to reprint or use portions of AHA materials must be submitted in writing to the AHA.
2. Course Completion and Card Issuance:
   Each student who successfully completes all components of an AHA course, including the classroom portion, hands-on skills sessions, and required assessments, must be issued an AHA course completion card (eCard or printed). These cards demonstrate the participant’s certification and must comply with all AHA requirements. A staged class does not meet these standards and cannot result in the issuance of official AHA course completion cards.
3. Instructor Monitoring Requirements:
   New instructors must be monitored teaching their first course within six months of completing their classroom training. This monitoring must be conducted by a current Training Faculty member for the Instructor’s discipline. The monitoring session can occur during an initial provider course or a renewal course. It is the responsibility of the instructor to coordinate this monitoring with the Training Faculty member or the Training Center Coordinator of their Training Center. Importantly, the individual monitoring the instructor cannot also be a student in the course, as this would compromise their ability to effectively evaluate the instructor and the students.
4. Authorized Use and Record Maintenance:
   AHA materials and course structures are specifically designed for use in authorized training. Training Centers are required to maintain accurate records, including completed course rosters, for all courses conducted. This ensures that each student who completes the course requirements is properly documented and issued the appropriate course completion card. This documentation and adherence to protocol cannot be achieved in a staged class setting.