A new Illinois law that goes into effect next year will ensure 9-1-1 dispatchers know how to properly teach people to perform CPR over the phone.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A law that goes into effect next year will ensure 9-1-1 dispatchers know how to properly teach people to perform CPR over the phone. Telecommunicators who work at the Central Illinois Regional Dispatch Center (CIRDC) say the new protocol will be lifesaving.

Dispatchers who work at CIRDC already use EMD Protocol, which gives them instructions to relay to callers for various lifesaving measures, like CPR. 

Communications Supervisor A.J. Johnson says the step-by-step guides are incredibly comprehensive.

"It's a general rundown of how to deal with any medical problems we might have. Anything from CPR—like we're talking about now—to delivering a baby, or even like a paper cut," Johnson said. 

Johnson said that access to the information is vital for 9-1-1 dispatchers. "Literally last night, I used CPR. I mean, it's almost a couple times a week we do, so I can't imagine the amount of lives it'll save."

The new law will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026. 

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