State legislators have introduced a law that will make learning hands-only CPR training a high school graduation requirement.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is life-saving emergency procedure.
"Only 11 percent of people who have sudden cardiac arrest out of the hospital survive, and survival is dependent upon somebody in the area who sees that person's arrest, who knows CPR and immediately initiates CPR until the paramedics come," said Michaeline Fedder with the American Heart Association.
Brianna Sudano credited CPR for saving her life. The 16-year-old suffered cardiac arrest after a field hockey game.
"Fortunately, the coaches immediately recognized that there was something wrong and they started CPR immediately. We were also very fortunate that there were three parents in the stands who were nurses who also came down. So, between the five of them, they performed CPR," said Rebecca Sudano, Brianna's mother.
Some Maryland legislators, with help from the American Heart Association, want hands-only CPR training for high school students as a graduation requirement.
"It's very important because it saves lives. It just barely requires as part of the high school curriculum that you have training in CPR, and CPR has been shown to save lives," said Delegate Susan Lee, D-District 16.
"It's hands-only CPR. It could be taught with 20-25 minutes. The teacher doesn't have to be a certified instructor. It's very inexpensive to do, and it'll result in probably doubling or tripling the survival rate from cardiac arrest," Fedder said.
The idea is to have as many people as possible have CPR training and be able to act in an emergency.
State legislators will be taking up the bill in the next couple of weeks.