HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 51

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Thomas A. Anderson

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO STUDY THE MERITS OF EXPANDING THE PERMITTED USES OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FUND TO INCLUDE TRAINING AND THE PLACEMENT OF DEFIBRILLATORS UNDER THE CARDIAC ARREST RESPONSE ACT.

     WHEREAS, more than two hundred fifty thousand people die in the United States each year of sudden cardiac arrest before they reach a hospital; and

     WHEREAS, sudden cardiac arrest strikes people of all ages and fitness levels, usually without warning; and

     WHEREAS, many of these lives could be saved if bystanders immediately summoned help by calling 911, if they began cardiopulmonary resuscitation and if they provided defibrillation with an automatic external defibrillator; and

     WHEREAS, the chances of surviving sudden cardiac arrest decrease by up to ten percent with each minute that passes without cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation; and

     WHEREAS, the Cardiac Arrest Response Act encourages the placement of automatic external defibrillators in areas where people gather and sets standards for training people in their use; and

     WHEREAS, since the Cardiac Arrest Response Act was enacted in 1999, more than one hundred sixty automatic external defibrillator programs have been implemented across New Mexico, significantly increasing the chances of survival of people stricken by sudden cardiac arrest; and

     WHEREAS, entities wishing to initiate an automatic external defibrillator program are responsible for the costs of training potential responders and purchasing and maintaining the defibrillators; and

     WHEREAS, it may be wise to consider expanding the statutory purposes for which the emergency medical services fund may be used to include those costs;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to study the merits of expanding the Emergency Medical Services Fund Act to allow qualified entities to receive funding for training and equipment under the Cardiac Arrest Response Act and to report its findings and recommendations, if any, to the appropriate interim committee of the legislature by November 30, 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health.

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