SB 4-REQUIRE CPR FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION  CHAIR DYSON announced SB 4 to be up for consideration. 1:36:18 PM BRIAN WEBB, fire-fighter paramedic, Anchorage, testified there were many instances, such as the one related by Mr. Kalinka, in which Alaskan's have died for want of rapid medical response and the knowledge of how to save themselves. There are many long- term benefits of the bill such as increasing the longevity, survivorship and volunteer spirit of Alaska's residents. The cost of training in cities would be low and many materials are already available in many school districts. Many rural communities have volunteer response services that could administer CPR and first aid training. He supported SB 4. JOE MATHIS, CEO American Red Cross, State of Alaska, supported SB 4. He said passing SB 4 would make Alaska a better-prepared state. It would give high-school students valuable job skills since preparedness for emergencies is important in many occupations. He respectfully requested the bill include language that requires the high standards of the American Red Cross or its equivalent. The State of Alabama requires CPR training for all its students. Louisiana, North Carolina, and Rhode Island require both American Red Cross CPR and first aid for their students. There are 668 Red Cross instructors in the State of Alaska, approximately 200 of which live in approximately 50 rural communities. 1:44:00 PM SENATOR OLSON asked Mr. Mathis how he expected schools in the Norton Sound Peninsula to train students. MR. MATHIS said volunteers living in hub communities and also through local search and rescue organizations could train students in rural areas. The Red Cross also offers distance- learning courses, which could be administered to students in rural areas. SENATOR OLSON asked whether the Red Cross would administer the programs. MR. MATHIS responded they would only participate if asked to participate. SENATOR ELTON asked whether the aforementioned states that have a CPR requirement make it a requirement for graduation. MR. MATHIS did not know. SENATOR ELTON asked how CPR training could be administered to children who are schooled at home. MR. MATHIS had not considered that. He would like the Legislature to consult the Red Cross before passing legislation involving the standards of CPR and first aid training. SENATOR WILKEN and SENATOR KOOKESH arrived at 1:47:06 PM. JENNIFER APP, American Heart Association, said cardiovascular disease and stroke are the number one and number three killers in the United States respectively. One in twenty Americans die of cardiovascular diseases each year. Sudden cardiac arrest claims the lives of 220,000 annually. Survivorship of cardiovascular disease is increased when victims are treated with CPR. 1:49:41 PM RUTH KELLER, staff for Senator Cowdery, remarked with respect to Senator Elton's earlier question about home-school training, there are several correspondence charter schools such as the Alyeska School that require first aid in their curriculums. First aid programs are done through video teleconferencing. UWE KALINKA informed his son was involved in an automobile accident in which an entire half hour elapsed before medical response. The various harms associated with slow response times could be partially alleviated by passage of SB 4. CHAIR DYSON held SB 4 in committee.