California's New CPR in Schools Law: What SB 945 Means for San Diego County and Southwest Riverside Families

On October 1, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 945, known as the “CPR in Schools” law. Authored by State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D., and supported by the American Heart Association, SB 945 takes an important step toward expanding CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) awareness in California public high schools.

For families, educators, school administrators, and community organizations in San Diego County, Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, and Lake Elsinore, the law reinforces a message that has practical meaning far beyond the classroom: young people can learn to recognize cardiac arrest, begin Hands-Only CPR, and help connect a person in crisis with emergency medical services.

What SB 945 Does

SB 945 requires the California Instructional Quality Commission to consider adding information about the importance, performance, and use of Hands-Only CPR and AEDs during the next update of the state's physical education curriculum framework for public high schools.

This is significant because physical education reaches students who may not otherwise take a health course. The law builds on existing California requirements for schools that require a health class for graduation. Under those existing requirements, students receive instruction in compression-only CPR, while schools are encouraged to provide information about the importance and use of AEDs.

In practical terms, SB 945 creates another pathway for CPR and AED education to reach California students. It does not mean every student will immediately receive a full professional certification card. Instead, it directs the state's curriculum process to consider incorporating lifesaving education into the broader physical education framework.

That distinction matters. Basic awareness is valuable, but a student who has physically practiced compressions, worked through an emergency scenario, and learned how to locate and use an AED is better prepared to respond than someone who has only read about CPR.

For more details, families and school leaders can review the California Senate announcement about SB 945.

Why CPR Education Belongs in Schools

Each year, more than 350,000 people in the United States experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital. Nearly 90% do not survive. When CPR begins immediately, it can double or triple a person's chances of survival.

Cardiac arrest can happen without warning and does not always happen to someone with a known heart condition. The story of Sacramento cardiac arrest survivor Susan Leonard illustrates this point. Susan collapsed at home with no prior history of heart disease. Her husband, Don, called 911 and began Hands-Only CPR while waiting for emergency responders.

Don had learned CPR when he was 18 years old. More than 40 years later, that training gave him the knowledge to take action when his wife needed immediate help.

The lesson for students and families is straightforward: a skill learned in high school may not be used for decades, but it can become essential in a single unexpected moment.

Hansika Kolli, president of the Vista del Lago High School American Heart Association club, also highlighted the community impact of CPR education: “When more young people understand how to respond to cardiac arrest, our communities are better prepared.”

That preparedness extends beyond school campuses. Students may be present when a family member collapses at home, when a teammate experiences a medical emergency, or when a neighbor needs help in a public place.

What Families Should Look for in CPR Training

SB 945 is an important policy development, but families should also understand the difference between hearing about CPR and practicing it.

A useful CPR and AED course should give participants an opportunity to:

• Recognize a possible cardiac arrest
• Call 911 or direct another person to make the call
• Begin effective chest compressions
• Practice using an AED safely
• Understand how to work with other people during an emergency
• Build confidence through realistic, instructor-guided scenarios

The goal is not simply to memorize a sequence of steps. The goal is to reduce hesitation when something serious happens.

This is also why certification cards alone are not the entire measure of readiness. A new simulation-based study published October 1, 2026, in BMC Pediatrics found that recertification timing mattered less than whether critical teamwork behaviors had been deliberately practiced. Those behaviors included role assignment, clear communication, closed-loop communication, and the use of checklists.

In an emergency, one person may call 911, another may begin compressions, someone else may find the AED, and another person may guide responders to the correct location. Training should help participants understand those roles before they are under pressure.

How Red Cross and HSI Training Can Support Schools and Families

Schools, employers, parents, and caregivers may have different certification requirements. Two established training pathways commonly used for CPR and first aid education are the American Red Cross and Health & Safety Institute (HSI).

Red Cross CPR/AED programs provide structured instruction in emergency recognition, CPR, and AED use. HSI programs offer CPR/AED, First Aid/CPR/AED, and Basic Life Support options, including blended learning formats that combine online coursework with a practical skills session.

For many certification programs, completing the online portion alone is not the same as completing a hands-on skills assessment. Schools and employers should confirm what type of certification or documentation they require before registering participants.

At Code Blue Safety Skills, I design every training session around the same practical principle: participants need more than information. They need an opportunity to practice skills, ask questions, and work through realistic situations.

I personally lead every class and come to you — mobile training at your location throughout San Diego County, Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, and Lake Elsinore. My services include:

• Mobile First Aid and CPR/AED training at your location
• Pediatric First Aid and CPR/AED training
• Basic Life Support training
• Stop Life-Threatening Bleeding instruction
• Certification renewals
• Traditional in-person and blended learning options
• Flexible scheduling for individuals and groups

Whether you are a parent, teacher, daycare provider, coach, business owner, or school administrator, training can be tailored to the environment where an emergency could actually occur.

Learn more about available options on the Courses page.

Why Fall Is a Good Time to Refresh CPR Skills

October is a natural time for families, schools, and workplaces to review emergency preparedness.

Many organizations schedule annual safety training during the fall, before the holiday season brings increased travel, family gatherings, workplace events, and community activities. It is also a useful time to check expiration dates, identify employees or volunteers who need renewal, and confirm that emergency equipment is accessible.

Schools can use the fall season to evaluate whether staff members know:

• Where AEDs are located
• Who is responsible for calling 911
• How emergency responders will access the building
• Which staff members have current CPR certification
• How to respond if a student, visitor, or employee collapses
• How to coordinate care until professional responders arrive

Parents can take similar steps at home. Review emergency contacts, learn where the nearest AEDs are located, and consider CPR/AED training for adults who regularly supervise children or older family members.

What SB 945 Means for Our Local Communities

For families in San Diego County, Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, and Lake Elsinore, SB 945 represents an opportunity to make CPR education more visible and more consistent across schools.

The law also reinforces an important community-wide idea: emergency readiness should not depend only on healthcare professionals or first responders. Teachers, students, parents, coaches, office staff, caregivers, and neighbors can all become part of the response during the critical minutes before help arrives.

A strong program combines education with practice. Participants should leave knowing what to do, how to begin, how to use an AED, and how to communicate with others during a stressful situation.

Prepare Your School, Workplace, or Family

SB 945 may shape future curriculum updates, but families and organizations do not need to wait to improve their readiness. Hands-Only CPR and AED training can begin now through a school program, workplace course, community class, or mobile training session.

I bring professional, interactive training to schools, offices, daycares, fitness centers, healthcare facilities, and other locations throughout San Diego County, Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, and Lake Elsinore.

Classes are available by appointment only. To request a class, email or call Code Blue Safety Skills and include the specific dates you want for the training. I can help determine whether an in-person, group, renewal, or blended learning option best fits your needs.

Visit the Contact page to get started.

Sources and further reading

• California Senate: Governor Newsom Signs Senator Weber Pierson's Legislative Package Into Law
• American Heart Association: New California Law Advances CPR and AED Education in Public High Schools
• Code Blue Safety Skills Courses
• Code Blue Safety Skills Contact