TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden which would require assisted living facilities to have both a defibrillator and a staff member trained in its use on site was unanimously approved today by the full Senate.
“This is a common sense measure,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “More often than not, assisted living facilities are home to older residents and those with serious health issues. This bill would codify existing Department of Health and Senior Service regulations and bring these facilities in closer in line with nursing homes and other health-related institutions, by making sure that employees are trained in the steps necessary to help treat residents with heart conditions.”
Senator Madden’s measure, S-2146, would give assisted living facilities one year from the bill’s enactment to acquire at least one defibrillator and to have employees trained to use the machine.
The measure would require the defibrillator to be maintained in a central location within the facility. Assisted living facilities would be responsible for arranging and covering the cost of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and defibrillator use for facility employees.
Defibrillation is a process in which an electronic device is used to provide an electric shock to the heart, in hopes of reestablishing a normal heart beat and activity after an arrhythmia or a heart attack.
This measure now heads to the Assembly for consideration. #
