SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A bill heading to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk would ensure emergency dispatchers know how to properly teach people CPR over the phone.
Sponsors and advocates say instructions and guidance from dispatchers can mean the difference between life and death.Â
Experts have told lawmakers the barriers to entry for effective T-CPR is incredibly low and the training requires minimal investment compared to long-term healthcare savings and life saves.
"When CPR begins prior to arrival of emergency medical service, the person in cardiac arrest has a two to three fold higher likelihood of survival," said Rep. Lisa Davis (D-Chicago). "For every minute intervention is delayed, the chance of survival decreases by 10%."
The American Heart Association said more than 350,000 people experiencing out of hospital cardiac arrest each month, but only one in ten people survive.Â
Senate Bill 1295 passed unanimously out of the House and Senate.Â
"We are losing too many of our friends and family to heart disease," said Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield). "Ensuring that our emergency dispatchers are well-equipped to handle these situations will save lives."Â
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