Freshmen and sophomores in Indiana high schools will now be required to learn CPR.
A new state law requires CPR training as part of required health classes. Danielle Patterson with the American Heart Association says 300-thousand high school students a year will be trained.
She says not having to wait for paramedics to arrive can be the difference between life and death.
"Through this we will meet the goal of having 8 out of 10 people across the country trained in CPR," says Patterson. "That will help out in people being able to act quickly when a heart attack occurs."
State Representative Ron Bacon, who authored the law, says it includes a waiver for schools who can‘t afford the 600-dollar training kits.
He says that‘s mainly to identify those schools, so the state can steer private donations to them.
Bacon, state school superintendent Glenda Ritz, and the American Heart Association made one such presentation to Frankfort High School and other Clinton County schools on Wednesday.
A donor to the heart association paid for the 600-dollar kits in his will.