NEW YORK, N.Y. – New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation requiring all youth sports programs to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) on hand.
Hochul signed off on the law late last month. She noted the now infamous incident where Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game showed the public the risks athletes face. Hochul says young athletes face the same risks when participating in sports camps and programs, and by requiring AEDs to be on hand, “kids will be safer, and teams will be prepared.”
The legislation will apply to camps or youth sports programs with more than five teams. It also states that one employee, coach, volunteer, umpire, or another adult trained in using AED must be present during activities.
In a statement regarding the new legislation, Hamlin said having an AED nearby was never something he thought about while playing youth football. He said his experience shows cardiac arrest can happen at any time, and he believes the legislation will help protect “thousands of kids” across the state.
