Abuja: Sen. Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta) has announced that his legislative proposal aiming to mandate first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training in Nigeria has successfully passed its first reading. The bill seeks to make such training compulsory in homes, schools, institutions, and workplaces across the nation. Nwoko, who represents the Delta North Senatorial District, shared this development with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the bill is titled ‘Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Provide for Mandatory First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Training and the Adoption of Good Samaritan Laws, 2024.’ It aims to integrate emergency response training and legal protection for bystanders into Nigeria’s constitutional framework. Nwoko stated that the proposed amendment to Section 17(3) of the Constitution would establish life-saving training requirements and promote the nationwide adoption of Good Samaritan Laws. These laws would protect individuals who assist victims in emergencies from legal liability.
The legislation highlights the increasing number of fatalities from sudden cardiac arrest in various locations, exacerbated by the lack of immediate intervention. Nwoko pointed out that bystanders often hesitate to help due to a lack of knowledge and fear of legal repercussions. The proposed training, to be conducted by certified Emergency First Response (EFR) instructors, aims to increase survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by ensuring timely response before professional medical assistance arrives.
Nwoko emphasized that the bill also underscores the importance of legal protection through ‘Good Samaritan’ laws, which would encourage citizens to act swiftly during emergencies without fear of legal action, thereby enhancing the community-level public health response capacity.