A new Illinois law is helping save lives

 In emergency situations, a few moments can be the difference between life and death. And beginning in the new year, 911 dispatchers in Illinois will be even more equipped to help save lives.

A new law requires dispatchers across Illinois to be trained in TCPR.

“Having telecommunicators be able to walk the individual through how to give CPR in a really calm, direct manner can really increase survival rates,” Government Relations Director at Illinois American Heart Association, Sarah Lackore, said.

The law requires telecommunicators to be skilled in two things: recognizing when cardiac arrest has occurred, and knowing how to walk the caller through performing CPR.

350,000 people suffer from a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital each year, but only 10% survive.

“That time in between when an individual collapses and when EMS arrives is incredibly important. For every minute that CPR is delayed, chance of survival decreases by 10%. So, getting CPR started as soon as possible is incredibly important and really increases chances of survival,” Lackore said.

Even though this law is new at the state level, it isn’t new in Champaign County. Metcad in Urbana already had required training prior to the state law passing. Employees there train on CPR and AED’s.

“Not everybody in our surrounding communities or counties provides the same level of care that we can right now,” Metcad telecommunicator supervisor, Brent Daugherty, said.

Lackore added that she belives the training is important in rural counties, because the longer EMS takes, the lower the chance of survival is. And, this legislation is personal for her.

“I have several family members who have heart conditions. So, knowing that if my beloved ones or anyone’s loved ones were to suffer a cardiac arrest, that the information is there to help them survive at least until the EMS arrives,” Lackore said.

The law gives every dispatcher in the state a chance to be an everyday hero.

“So, to ensure that somebody has the ability to make the 911 call and be given instructions, it really turns everyone into a lifesaver,” Lackore said.

The law goes into effect on January 1st, 2026.