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Measure Would Require Defibrillator Training

flickr / David Bruce Jr. (CC BY 2.0)

The Illinois Senate approved legislation requiring Illinois high school students be trained to use Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs.

The device can deliver a life-saving shock to someone having a heart attack.

Senator John Mulroe, D-Chicago, says the legislation was inspired by the death of a high school student in 2008.

He says Lauren Laman was at dance practice when she suddenly collapsed.

"The teachers ran to her aide. Thirteen minutes later, she was gone. An AED, or an automated external defibrillator, was about 40 feet away, but it was never used," Mulroe said.

Mulroe says more than half of Illinois schools already require such training.

Governor Pat Quinn says he will sign the training requirement into law.