Ohio will require AEDs in schools and public athletic facilities in effort to save lives

The state of Ohio will require automated external defibrillators be available in schools and sports facilities around the state.

On Tuesday, Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 47 , which mandates that AEDs be placed in every public and chartered nonpublic school in Ohio, as well as all municipally owned or operated sports and recreation venues.

After Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and fell onto the Paycor Stadium field during a game against Cincinnati in January 2023, his life was saved by an automated external defibrillator.

After Canen Dickman of Worthington collapsed from a sudden cardiac arrest during a summer soccer practice, his life too was saved by an AED.

More: The Damar Hamlin effect: Bills player's on-field collapse left impact on Cincinnati

After Paul G. Ward Jr., father of Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward, fell off the bike during a spin class due to a sudden cardiac arrest, no one in the building used the AED available to resuscitate him. He died in the hospital later that night.

Paul Ward's wife, Nicole Ward, started the Make Them Know Your Name Foundation, a heart health foundation that delivers education and resources to ensure that Ohioans are CPR and AED trained.

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Despite the prevalence of sudden cardiac arrest, AEDs were not legally required to be placed in Ohio schools, or municipally owned and operated sports and recreation venues.

Hamlin was not able to attend the bill signing on Tuesday due to training, but Paul Sparling, former athletic trainer and medical administration consultant for the Cincinnati Bengals, spoke on Hamlin's behalf, reading a letter he had written expressing gratitude for those who saved his life that day, and voicing his support for the legislation.

Sparling stressed that having AEDs in schools creates a safer environment.

"It's not just the kids, it's the coaches, the parents, the grandparents, the fans, anyone within close proximity of an AED can have a second chance when it's implemented properly," said Sparling.

Dickman and his mother, Pam Dickman, said they hope the legislation saves lives.

"We hope that the passing of this bill will save lives just as mine was saved, because if it weren't for AED and CPR training in our school, I would not be here today, thank you Governor DeWine," Canen Dickman said.

Nicole Ward shared a statement from her son Denzel Ward and said her husband could have been saved by an AED if people were trained to use them. There was no warning when her husband died on "what seemed like a normal, ordinary day."

She outlined the unpredictable nature of sudden cardiac arrest, and the necessity of accessible AEDs and instructing people on their usage. Denzel Ward explained in his statement that being from Ohio is a point of pride for him, and that pride has swelled with the signing of this bill.

The bipartisan bill was sponsored by state Rep. Richard Brown, D-Canal Winchester, and Rep. Adam Bird, R-New Richmond.

Nfishman@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio will require AEDs in schools and public athletic facilities in effort to save lives