Bills Would Require CPR Training To Graduate High School

LANSING (AP) - Lawmakers are proposing legislation to require all Michigan schools to provide CPR training to students before they can receive a high school diploma.

The American Heart Association says 27 states require CPR education for graduation.

Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker and Rep. Thomas Hooker say guaranteeing that seventh- to 12-graders know CPR would save lives.

The Republicans introduced their bills in December and held a Capitol news conference earlier this week to promote the measures, which are backed by the medical community.

Nearly 357,000 people have cardiac arrest outside of a hospital every year, and just 8 percent survive. Supporters of the legislation say CPR can nearly triple cardiac arrest survival rates.

The bills have been referred to legislative education committees.