SPRINGFIELD – AEDs will be required in nursing homes under a new law led by State Senator Doris Turner.

“AEDs increase the chances of survival during cardiac arrest,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “By requiring them in nursing homes, lives will be saved.”

House Bill 1287 requires nursing homes to have an automatic external defibrillator by Jan. 1, 2030. Turner’s law also requires all facility staff certified to use an AED to have completed courses in CPR and AED usage.

AEDs are currently required in public schools, fitness centers, horse racing facilities, police departments and dental offices. According to the American Heart Association, of the people with cardiac arrest who receive a shock from an AED within the first minute, nine out of 10 survive.

“The hope is that families of nursing home residents will have peace of mind that if something happens, lifesaving devices are on site to save their loved one,” said Turner.

House Bill 1287 was signed into law on Friday.