[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 160 (Thursday, September 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING TANNER LEE JAMESON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 27, 2018

  Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, this past June marked the nine-
year anniversary since Tanner Lee Jameson collapsed at a school 
basketball game. Tanner was in cardiac arrest and needed an automated 
external defibrillator or AED. But the school's defibrillator was 
inaccessible, and Tanner did not survive.
  Seconds count for those suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. Chance 
of survival decreases 7-10 percent for every minute without CPR and a 
defibrillator. A defibrillator is easy to operate and highly effective 
in restoring the heart's normal rhythm. Schools with AED programs have 
survival rates of over 70 percent, as compared to only 10 percent for 
children in schools without AEDs.
  Because of this, I am proud to have introduced House Resolution 35 to 
encourage public schools with AEDs to hold annual training in their 
schools on how to use their AEDs. My resolution has the support of the 
American Heart Association, American Ambulance Association, the 
American College of Cardiology, National Association of School Nurses, 
and many others.
  My constituent and Tanner's mother, Rhonda Harrill, has been a 
dedicated advocate for increased AED presence and awareness. Thanks to 
her efforts, Tennessee has passed two laws increasing the number of 
schools with AEDs, especially in readily-accessible locations.
  I am honored to represent constituents such as Rhonda, who has 
celebrated her son Tanner's life by advocating for the lives of others' 
children.
  Today, I am pleased to join my colleagues in participating in the AED 
Hunt on the Hill, an annual event hosted by the Children's 
Cardiomyopathy Foundation. Cardiomyopathy affects how the heart pumps 
blood through the body and is the most common cause of sudden cardiac 
arrest in the young. This condition does not have obvious symptoms, so 
it is often not detected until tragedy strikes.
  It is my pleasure to have the opportunity to remember Tanner 
Jameson's life and participate in this year's AED Hunt on the Hill. We 
can all help save lives by increasing awareness about the importance of 
having accessible AEDs.

                          ____________________