A new law has required schools to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and prepare for cardiac emergencies during athletic events. Health advocates hailed the measure as crucial in preventing sudden deaths among student-athletes.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 256 into law on March 10. The law requires that AEDs be available during all school athletic events. It also requires schools to integrate cardiac emergency protocols into their safety plans.
Schools to install, maintain AED
The American Heart Association lauded the measure, saying the move addresses a longstanding gap in school preparedness for sudden cardiac arrest. Under the new law, the New Mexico Public Education Department must come up with guidelines to ensure that school employees are trained to operate an AED based on AHA standards.
Schools are also required to install, maintain, and clearly mark AED units on campus and develop evidence-based cardiac emergency response plans. Implementation will roll out in phases across different types of schools during the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 school years.
For lawmakers who back the measure, the law is as much about prevention as it is about readiness. “This legislation empowers schools to take proactive steps, equipping staff with the training and resources needed to save lives in critical situations,” said state Rep. Pamelya Herndon, one of the bill’s primary sponsors.
A silent but deadly risk
Cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Around 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) events occur each year, and nearly 9 out of 10 of them prove fatal. Medical research shows that immediate access to an AED can double or even triple a victim’s chances of survival.
Among children, there are over 23,000 children in the country who experience cardiac arrest each year. Nearly 4 out of 10 of those incidents are due to sports activities. Survival rates decline with every passing minute without rapid defibrillation.
Many schools across the country still lack comprehensive cardiac emergency response systems, according to health advocates. The new law aims to address this gap.
Mahesh Sita, government relations director for the American Heart Association in New Mexico, said the law reflects the recognition that schools must be ready for medical emergencies.
“New Mexico’s leaders have taken the bold, lifesaving action our children deserve,” Sita said. “This new law ensures that every school is better equipped to respond when seconds matter most.”
Advocates say the goal is simple: when a cardiac emergency arises on a school field or gymnasium, help is available within seconds — not minutes.