SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, announced Wednesday that her Assembly Bill 1214 will head to the California State Senate.
“It’s clear that school events require more supervision and personnel trained in CPR,” said Melendez. “I am pleased to see my colleagues in the State Assembly agree that providing CPR training for our teachers and educators is important to keep our children safe during a medical emergency.”
AB 1214, also known as “Alex’s Law,” was introduced in response to the tragic drowning of Alex Pierce while he was attending an end of the year pool party at Vista Murrieta High School and went without life-saving measures for approximately seven minutes before paramedics arrived to administer CPR. AB 1214 requires schools offering interscholastic athletic programs to have CPR trained personnel at athletic events at all times and also requires school districts to offer CPR training to its employees.
“Shouldn’t school district staff and personnel be equipped with all of the tools necessary to ensure the safety of that child and even save a child’s life in a medical emergency,” said Sabrina Pierce, mother of Alex Pierce. “How and when to perform CPR is a basic life-saving skill that should be required of all adults responsible for the safety of a child while that child is in his or her care.”
“We must ensure California teachers are adequately prepared to respond to any emergency,” Melendez said. “With the bill now headed to the Senate I know there is still work ahead to get Alex’s Law signed by the Governor. AB 1214 provides one extra measure of safety for our children and hopefully prevent another event like the one that took the life of Alex Pierce.”
Assemblywoman Melissa A. Melendez represents the 67th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar and a portion of Hemet. It also includes the Riverside County unincorporated areas of Lake Mathews, Good Hope, Nuevo, and Winchester. Follow her on Twitter: @asmMelendez
