High school students across the state will be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators this fall.
In front of hundreds of firefighters at the annual Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois meeting in Normal, Governor Pat Quinn signed the law, named after high school student Lauren Laman, who died waiting for an ambulance because her classmates did not know how to use an AED.
Some school administrators are worried about how the mandate will be funded, but Quinn says that will work itself out: "I think this is something that it's just common sense. People all over our state understand that taking a few minutes in the course of a class year at a high school is a very important way to help students learn to work together for something important that will make a difference for the rest of their lives."
CPR and AED training will be part of health classes in all state schools. Students can opt out of the training if their parents submit a written objection.
