The case for New York’s proposed T-CPR law

Medical emergencies can happen anywhere to anyone. As a medical student, I learn about, hear of, or witness emergencies in the hospital regularly. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been trained to perform CPR or how many hours I’ve studied the risk factors and medical management of patients who experience sudden cardiac arrest. No matter how much you’ve prepared, intervening is scary. Especially for the first time. 

About 350,000 cardiac arrests occur in the United States every year outside of the hospital. In these situations, bystanders have the opportunity to intervene and safe a life. What if you don’t know how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) or perform CPR before help arrives? Luckily, the moment you turn on an AED, voice prompts tell you exactly how to perform a few simple steps to correctly use the device. Visual diagrams are on the AED too, and it much easier than it looks on TV. But what about CPR?

I’ve spent nearly ten years advocating for increased access and mandates for CPR trainings, AED use, and free community heart screenings. It’s a topic that hits close to home. When I was in middle school, I was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic condition that causes thickening of the heart muscle and increases one’s risk of cardiac arrest. Despite often being otherwise asymptomatic, HCM is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young people. Oftentimes, these cardiac arrests happen outside of the hospital—in places like sports arenas, parks, and neighborhoods. For people like me, effective CPR could literally be the difference between life and death. Since my diagnosis, it’s been my mission to work to give people who experience sudden cardiac arrest a better chance of survival. Telecommunicator CPR training (T-CPR) is that crucial next step. 

T-CPR refers to an evidence-based training program that is designed for 911 call-takers to effectively recognize cardiac arrests over the phone, provide clear CPR instructions to bystanders, assist with AED use, and coordinate with medical services in the area to promptly intervene. In our state of New York, there is currently no law requiring 911 call-takers and dispatchers to complete T-CPR training. In areas where T-CPR is already implemented, nearly two times as many people who experienced sudden cardiac arrest received early CPR from a bystander. Additionally, T-CPR resulted in a 51% increased chance of survival compared to no bystander CPR. Evidently, easy-to-understand, evidence-based instructions make people more likely to call for help even if they don’t already know how to perform CPR. When bystanders intervene and are properly guided by well-trained responders, survival rates go up. 

Outside of the hospital, the opportunity to save a life lies in the hands of all of us, the bystanders—350,000 opportunities per year. Mandating T-CPR training and annual refresher courses for 911 call-takers and dispatchers is a simple, well-validated, and cost-effective way to save lives. Bystanders in New York deserve expert guidance if they witness an emergency. It will be scary to intervene whether it’s the first time you’ve witnessed a medical emergency or if you’ve been CPR certified many times before. CPR itself is simple, but I know in an emergency, I’d want someone trained on the best way to guide me through it. 

The New York T-CPR legislation is currently working its way through state government. We have the opportunity to save lives now. Rather than dialing 911, call your state representative. Express support for T-CPR so that the next time someone witnesses a medical emergency in your community, they’ll be more likely to dial 911 and be guided through the simple steps of CPR before help arrives.