(STATEHOUSE) Feb. 9, 2009 -The Indiana House of Representatives today unanimously passed a bill, authored by Rep. Cleo Duncan (R-Greensburg), requiring a city, town and county law enforcement agency to regularly train cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the Heimlich maneuver. "Many times, our police officers are the first responders. CPR and Heimlich maneuver training are imperative to the safety of the people they serve; therefore, we need to ensure that our law enforcement officers are properly trained," said Duncan. "Most of our law enforcement officers are trained at the police academy, but once they graduate there is nothing that requires them to keep current with CPR and the Heimlich maneuver education." "Training procedures have changed over the years. For example, mouth to mouth resuscitation is no longer necessary. Currently teaching programs are centered on compression resuscitations." While many of the law enforcement agencies stay up-to-date and continue to provide CPR and Heimlich maneuver education programs, it is important to public safety to keep current. Rep. Duncan encourages constituents to contact her with questions or concerns through e-mail at h67@in.gov, by calling the Statehouse at 1-800-382-9841 or by writing her at the Statehouse, 200 W. Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204. -30- |
