National Politics Roundup, Teaching CPR In Schools, State Politics In 2016

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time

A bill in the state legislature would make CPR training mandatory for high school students, which supporters say could help save countless lives. Our guests explain why they hope the legislation passes. We also discuss what to watch for in Wisconsin politics this year, and get the latest on national political news.

Featured in this Show

  • Training Wisconsin Students In CPR Would Save Lives, Health Organization Says

    The American Heart Association is supporting a new bill that would require CPR training of all students in middle school and high school health classes, saying the legislation could have a “profound” effect on saving lives.

    Dr. J. Carter Ralphe, board president of the American Heart Association in Madison and chief of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, said heart disease, heart attacks and cardiac arrest are the leading cause of death in America, killing about 1,000 people a day.

    “Most of them don’t get CPR because there aren’t bystanders available who know how to provide CPR,” he said.

    With a basic training lesson at school, Ralphe said the bill would equip about 58,000 students from both public and private schools each year with a basic CPR lesson that could save lives.

    Other states have already passed similar laws, and Ralphe said it’s dramatically increased the survival rate of those suffering from cardiac arrest, going from the national average of 11 percent up to about 25 to 30 percent.

    Nicole Hudzinski, senior government relations director for the American Heart Association in Wisconsin, said Wisconsin would follow 27 other states that have already passed similar legislation. She said the compressions-only training takes about 30 minutes. It is not, she added, the full certification required from clinicians and EMS providers.

    Hudzinski said community partners, including the heart association, the Red Cross and fire departments, will often provide the training free of charge to many school districts across the state.

  • This Week In Washington – January 20, 2016

    Harry Enten, senior political writer and analyst for FiveThirtyEight, joins Central Time for our weekly look at the most pressing issues in national politics.

  • Bill Would Boost CPR Training In Wisconsin Schools

    CPR training would get a big boost in Wisconsin schools, under proposed legislation–and guests from the American Heart Association say the expanded training would be a life-saver.

  • What To Watch For In Wisconsin Politics In 2016

    Wisconsin has a lot to look forward to in the world of politics in 2016 including possible Civil Service reforms, a state Supreme Court election and national elections in the fall. A former state senator tells us what to watch for in the coming year.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Rob Ferrett Producer
  • Judith Siers-Poisson Producer
  • Matt Oleson Producer
  • Nicole Hudzinksi Guest
  • Dr. J. Carter Ralphe Guest
  • Harry Enten Guest
  • Chuck Chvala Guest