Tallahassee woman who survived cardiac arrest now lobbying for changes on Capitol Hill

A Tallahassee woman who survived sudden cardiac arrest is now joining other survivors on Capitol Hill to lobby for mandatory CPR and AED training in schools.

Brittany Williams visited the offices of five Florida U.S. Senators and Representatives Thursday to share her story and encourage them to vote for the Hearts Act and the Access to AEDs Act.

“It was a very powerful and emotional day,” Brittany Williams said. “I’m really hoping this does pass in the House and Senate because it can save thousands of children’s lives in Florida and across the country.”

Williams collapsed in a restaurant in New York City back in December 2014 and survived thanks to two strangers who stepped in to perform CPR. She was just 24 at the time.

“I never thought a decade later I’d be standing in the U.S. Capitol advocating for this,” Brittany Williams said. “It truly made my heart so happy.”

“Just being at the Capitol was just amazing,” her mother Vicki Williams said after accompanying her daughter. “Everywhere you looked there were people in red, people like us,” she said.

The Williams - along with Tiffany McCaskill who serves as government relations director for the local American Heart Association - were among approximately 200 people who were lobbying for mandatory CPR and AED training in schools.

The American Heart Association is asking Congress to require CPR and AED training for students, staff and sports coaches in both elementary and secondary schools, require them to create cardiac emergency response plans and provide funding to buy AED’s.

“I’m a survivor myself,” Brittany Williams said, “and it’s an amazing opportunity to get a second chance at life so to be able to give that opportunity to someone else, it’s a gift.”

“We were on a huge platform today,” Vicki Williams said. “Looking back at when Brittany had her cardiac arrest, I never dreamed that she would inspire people and use her story to try to save lives. We are blessed, humble and thankful.”