This commentary is by Kathryn Towle of Fletcher.When we took my son Jack home from the hospital, everything seemed fine. But we quickly realized that he was struggling to breathe, which was putting a strain on his heart and lungs in his first few months of life.At his three-month checkup, our pediatrician recommended that we travel to the UVMMC Children’s Hospital to have him seen by a cardiologist, who diagnosed him with two congenital heart defects, one of which could only be repaired via open-heart surgery. Thanks to medical research and the care of health care providers, Jack’s heart was repaired before his first birthday.  We often think of heart disease as affecting older adults, but Jack is proof that this isn’t true. The fact is, up to 23,000 children in the U.S. will experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital this year. And most of the young people who will not survive have an underlying heart condition, like a congenital heart defect. During a cardiac emergency, every second counts. For every minute without CPR, chances of survival drop by 10%. When I think about Jack and his friends at school and in extracurricular activities, I hope that if the unthinkable were to happen, someone nearby would know what to do. But data shows that most of the time, that is not the case. Fewer than half of all people — including adults — who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital will get the immediate care they need before paramedics arrive. Cardiac emergency response plans can more than double survival rates from cardiac arrest by helping to ensure people nearby know to dial 911, start CPR and use an automated external defibrillator. Here in Vermont, I am working with the American Heart Association to urge our state legislators to pass a bill that will require school districts to develop cardiac emergency response plans similar to state legislation that has been passed just this year in more than 10 other states. At the federal level, I am joining other parents of CHD and cardiac arrest survivors, families who have lost a loved one to cardiac arrest and health care providers, to urge Congress to pass comprehensive policies that will increase the chance of survival from cardiac arrest in schools. Last month, the HEARTS Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives — a major milestone in our campaign to double the chance of survival from cardiac arrest nationwide. It is now up to the U.S. Senate to pass this bill and ensure that schools across the country are ready to respond to a cardiac emergency.These bills would save lives by ensuring that students in elementary and secondary schools, along with school staff and sports volunteers, are trained in CPR and the use of AEDs. Additionally, it will support schools in acquiring AEDs and formulating plans to effectively respond to cardiac emergencies.The safety of students, school staff and visitors can be enhanced when school response teams are trained and empowered to administer lifesaving care until emergency medical services arrive. We shouldn’t lose any child because the people nearby weren’t prepared to respond to a cardiac arrest. Congress — along with our state representatives — must prioritize public policies that will save lives from cardiac arrest.  Read the story on VTDigger here: Kathryn Towle: Take action to save lives from cardiac arrest.