DeWine signs bill requiring this medical device in all Ohio schools

OHIO (WJW) — Gov. Mike DeWine Tuesday signed House Bill 47 into law requiring all schools in the state to have an AED.

The law also requires AEDs at municipally owned or operated sports and recreation venues.

“This is something near and dear to our hearts,” said Stephanie Kornet, parent.

It’s a law that hits home for Kornet.

Her son, Alec, died from sudden cardiac arrest seven years ago at the age of 17. The Brush High School student athlete’s memory lives on through the ‘4Alec Foundation’ which raises awareness about heart health and first aid training.

“Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter if they are six years old or 100 years old,” said Kornet.

Sudden cardiac arrest is the number one killer of student-athletes, according to the American Heart Association.

Before this law, Ohio schools were not required to have AEDs. However, Ohio law did require public high schools to provide instruction on how to use them as part of a graduation requirement.

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